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Photographic 

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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

BOf 


I  ^ 


No.  3.- 


REP 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 


I  s 


No.  3. — The  Widow  of   Skillat,  tiik  foumkk  (^icief's  House  at 

A\''RAX(iEL,   AjiASKA. 


REPORT  OF  THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR, 

SECRETARY  OF  THE  INTERIOR. 


AND 


*i^ 


Letter  to  the  President, 

By  VINCENT   COLYER, 

Secretary  of  Board  of  Indian  Commissioners. 


WASHINGTON: 

1870. 


nv-i-^e 


£.,1 


I 


f  )• 


C:Vv.'   .^i 


V'ii^^-i 


mmmrn^ 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 


I>EPAUTMENT    OF   THE   INTERIOR, 

Board  of  Indian  Commissioners  ^ 
March  31,   1870. 

Sir  :  I  am  directed  by  the  Board  of  Indian  Commissioners  to 
call  your  attention  to  the  recent  bombardment  of  the  Indian  village 
at  W range],  Alaska,  by  the  United  States  troops  located  at  that 
post. 

By  referring  to  the  two  official  reports,  herewith  accompanying, 
from  the  War  and  Interior  Departments,  called  for  by  resolution  of 
the  United  States  Senate,  March  14th,  1870,  you  will  see  that  the 
village  was  made  up  of  well  constructed  habitations,  costing  the  in- 
habitants years  of  hard  labor  to  build  with  their  primitive  tools; 
ornamented  with  carving  in  wood  of  most  singular  and  elaborate 
workmansbii* ;  jjainted  with  curious  imagery,  and  provided  outsida 
and  in  "with  numy  of  the  conveniences  of  civilized  life 

The  testimony  of  Leon  Smith,  the  post  trader,  who  was  killed,  Wm. 
Wall  and  others,  shows  that  these,  Indians  wore  perfectly  peaceable 
and  "well  disposed  towards  the  whites,"'  honest,  industrious,  always 
anxious  to  get  employment."  and  "susceptable  of  a  high  standard 
of  cultivation."  I  visited  their  cabins  and  can  endorse  the  above 
statements  of  the  white  residents  of  the  village. 

They  entertained  with  great  delight  my  pro])osition  to  establish 
an  industrial  school  among  them,  arranged  enthusiastically  for  its 
location,  and  engaged  to  aid  in  the  erection  of  the  school  building. 

This  village,  containing  a  population  of  five  hundred  and  eight 
souls,  of  whom  three  hundred  and  forty  werc^  women  and  children, 
was  cannonaded  with  l)oth  solid  shot  and  shell  continuously  from  2 
o'clock  till  dark  of  one  afternoon,  and  resumed  the  next  morning  at 
daybreak — continuing  we  know  not  how  long — until  these  helpless 
people  begged  f  '  mercy. 

The  military  reports  show  that  this  bombardment  was  the  result 
of  a  wanton  and  unjustifiable  killing  of  an  Indian  named  Si-wau  by 
Lieutenant  Loucks,  the  second  officer  in  command  of  tlie  Post. 

This  Indian,  who  was  intoxicated,  had  severely  bitten  a  woman's 
finger.  The  arrest  of  such  a  man  as  this  is  any  day  effected  by 
two  or  three  ordinary  policemen  in  our  cities  with  perfect  ease  and 
quietness.  Instead  of  this.  Lieutenant  Loucks,  with  twenty  armed 
soldiers,  went  to  his  house  at  midnight,  placed  eight  men  outside  of 
the  door,  took  twelve  in  with  liim,  and,  though  he  found  «nly  two 

109 77G  Pacific  N.W.  History  Dept. 

PROVINCIAL-  LIBRARY 


2     UOMUAUDMENT   OF    INDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WUANGKL,  ALASKA. 

(Irmikon  Indian:-;  witli  their  wives  in  tliu  cabin,  (lie  sayH  "/J('/7((?/js 
tlioi'c  may  \in\\-  licen  souu'  otlici's,"  lie  only  o-ucsscv-;  at  tlial,)  lie  de- 
liberatoly  iin'anif>-os  his  twelve  soldiers  in  sin^'le  lilc,  ^'ivt's  them 
orders  to'fiix-  wMiMi,  lie'shal!  raise  his  hand,  and  then,  alVcr  sonic  iin- 
im})ortaiit  (U'nionstralions,  he  says: 

"  Still  wisliin;^  to  avoid  loss  of  life  il"  possible,  I  trird  to  <>,'ive  him 
two  or  three  sabre  ents  over  tlic  head  to  stun  without  killiiii;:  him. 
In  doin^'  this  1  had  n'iveii  the  ]>re('oiieerte(l  siti'na!  (Ity  raisini;-  my 
hand)  to  lire.  1  should  judge  ahoiit  six  or  eight  shots  wt'rc  lired 
during  the  luoleo,  and  only  eeasing  by  the  Indian  8i-wau  lalling  at 
the  teet  ofthe  detachment  dead." 

The  etiect  of  this  liring  by  the  soldiers  was  to  arouse  the  whole 
Iiuliail  village,  and,  in  about  an  hour  alter  it  occuri'ed,  a  white  man 
nayied  Leon  Smith  was  fihot  by  a  ectusin  of  Si-wau  in  retaliation  for 
tliQ  killing  of  his  relative,  and  it  was  for  the  death  of  this  Mr.  Leon 
Smith,  though  caused,  as  we  have  si'en,  i)y  an  oliicer's  own  cruelty, 
tha*' the' I'ost  Commandant,  Lienteiuiid  Borrows,  ordered  the  bom- 
bardment of  the  entire  Indian  village,  with  its  three  hundi'cd  and 
forty  women  and  children,  in  the  middle  of  winter. 

'^riie  report  of  the  Secretary  -if  the  Interitjr,  on  ]iage  7,  show 
abuses  jiractiseil  on  thesi'  Imlians  which,  being allo\ved  logo  un[mn- 
islied,  would  naturally  l(>ad  to  disastrous  result-;,  and  onjiage  10  the 
Reverend  "Win .  Duncan,  tin'  most  successful  missionary  among  the 
Indians  in  l>ritish  Colnmbiu  near  Wrangel,  says: 

"  Alilitary  rule  among  Indians,  while  heathen,  is,  I  feel  sure,  u 
fatal  mistake.  It  will  only  breed  thi'  troubles  it  was  intended  to 
check,  ('riic  l)loodof  poor  Cajitain  Smith,  lately  shot  at  Fort  AVran- 
gcl,  lies,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  at  the  door  of  military  aiivhority  thei'e,) 
while  both  Indian  and  soldier  are  reciprocating  their  vices,  and  both 
being  plunged  into  utter  ruin.  The  accounts  I  have  received  from 
tiiiie  to  time  of  the  conduct  of  the  soldiers  in  the  Indian  camps  oi' 
the  coast  of  Alaska  are  truly  shocking.  If  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment did  but  know  half.  I  am  sure  they  would  shrink  from  beini>: 
ideiitiiied  with  sucii  abominations,  and  the  cause  of  so  much  misery." 

Very  respectful  I  v,  vour  obedient  servant, 

VINCENT  COLYEII, 

Secnf'tri/. 
To  TUK  I'ri;sident. 


41. ST 

2,1 


BOARD  OF  INDIAN  COMAIISSIOXEItS: 

4  , 

Felix  R.  Buunot,  Pittsburgh,  I*a.,  (Jhairma)). 

RoHBRT  Campbell,  St.  Louis,  IIenhy  S.  Lane,  Indiana, 

l^J'ATirAX  Bisiioi',  New  '^''ork,  CiEoiuiK  S.  SirAin',  Fhiladolphia. 

William  E.  Dodge,  New  York,  Edwaup  S.  Tohev,  r»oston, 

John  V,  Fahwell,  Chicago,  John  D.  Lanu,  Maine, 

Vincent  ColVer,  New  York,  Secrdarn. 


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4l8T  CoNUlJKSS,  I 
2(1  *SV'.v.s/(>».        ( 


SENATE. 


I  Ex.  Doc. 
No.  G7. 


) 


LETTER 


THE    SECRETARY    OF    WAR 


sliow 


COMMI  NK'ATr.\(i 


In  cimplkince  with  a  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  lith  instunt,  the  report 
of  the  vommnnder  of  the  (It'itart)nent  of  Alaska  upon  the  late  bombardnu'nt 
of  the  Indian  rillai/e  at  M'ranjieL  in  that  Territory. 


*1a1{<'ii  -Jl.  1-70,— Jfcrcriid  to   tin'  ('(iminittfi^  on  Jlilitar.v  Atl'iiir.s  iiml  onli'icd   to  be 

])riiit<'(l. 


WATJ   ])i;i'AUTMKNT, 

Mareh  !!>,  1S70. 
The  St'cretary  of  War  lius  the  hoiioi'  to  submit  to  the  Senate  of  the 
Lliiited  States,  in  obeilieiice  to  the  resohitioii  of  ]Mai(;h  It,  1870,  the 
aecotiii)an.viiifi;  reixnt  of  the  eoinmaiider  of  the  departiiieiit  of  Alaska 
upon  llie  hite  boinbardnient  of  the  Indian  vilhi<jfe  at  Wrangel,  in  tlie 
Tenitorv  of  Ahiska. 

W.M.  W.  liELKNAl*, 

Seeretari/  of  War. 


llKAUyUAUTKUS   DEI'AUTMKNT   (»F  ALASKA, 

Nteamer  Keicbern,  Januari/  18,  1870. 

(iENKKAL:  Since  my  hist  coninuuiieation  witli  tlie  Il('ad(iuarters  Mili- 
tary J)ivision  of  the  Paeific,  the  following  dilVienlties  with  the  Indians 
'  "ve  oeeurred,  which  1  think  should  be  specially  reported.  On  the  tnoru- 
iii^;"  of  the  KJth  ultimo  Policeman  J.  C.  I'arker,  of  the  villa{;e  of  Sitka, 
shot  an  Indian  under  circumstances  which  I  thoujfht  unjustifiable,  and 
ordered  his  immediate  arrest.  In  order  to  |^et  at  all  the  facts  of  the  ease, 
1  ordered  a  board  of  ollicers  to  asscunble  and  investigate  it  thoroughly. 
The  board,  after  taking  all  the  testintony  bearing  on  the  case,  pro- 
noupced  the  sho;)ting  unjustiliahle,  and  I  ordered  Parker  to  be  kept  in 
coniinenuMit  until  sueli  time  as  a  com[»etent  court  might  dom md  him  for 
trial,  or  his  release  be  ordered  by  proper  authority.  This  is  the  second 
Indian  Parker  has  killed  within  the  past  year.  The  killing  in  both  cases 
was  pronounced  unjustifiable  by  the  board  of  officers  who  iuvestigdted 
them. 

The  next  alfair  I  desire  to  mention  occurred  at  Fort  Wrangel  on  Christ- 
mas day.  The  otlicial  reports  of  Lieutenauts  Borrowe  and  Loucks,  here- 
with transmitted,  describe  the  commencement  of  this  disturbance  so 
minutely,  and  the  course  taken  by  them  to  put  it  down,  that  1  deem  it 
unnecessary  to  make  any  lengthy  report  upon  the  subject.    While  at 


2       nOMBAUHMKNT   OF    INDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WRANGEL,  ALASKA, 


Fort  Wriiti{,'(>I  I  called  t\u:  principul  riiiclN  of  tlio  tiilu!  tofjctlicr  itnd  Iichl 
ii  talk  with  tlM?m.  Their  v«Msinii  of  tlio  iift'iir  ajircod  in  all  essential 
jioiiits  with  the  lejioitsol  the  <  lliceis.  They  exiiut^s  thciiiK'lveshatistied 
with  the  settleiru  lit  of  it,  and  ha,v  tlie.v  will  coiitimie  ])ea(  <  ahle.  Alter  a 
Vi'ry  thoidiij^h  iiivestif^ation  of  tlui  whole  alVair,  I  am  satislied  Lieuten- 
ant I{()rn)\v<'  aiitcd  with  |)roin;)hi:HS  a'ld  f?()  )d  JiKl^xniiMit;  a  less  dcii^iiieil 
course  would  prohaldy  not  lia\e  setthd  it  with  as  little  bloodshed  as  Iho 
one  pursued.  F  anticijiate  no  fiiitlier  tnmhle  witli  this  trilie  for  soino 
time  to  come. 

In  (!oii(;liisioii,  I  would  state  tint  in  my  opinion  the  eliief  cause  of  this 
afif.iir  was  the  sale  of  liquor  to  some  of  the  Indians  by  two  white  men 
professin;;  to  lie  iiiiiiers  liviiifj  at  the  post.  TIk^sc  men  iiroeiiied  tho 
liipior  under  pretext  o*"  its  beinfi  for  their  own  use.  The  I  idiaii  Hiwaii, 
who  bit  off  tln!  lauiKiress'H  tinker,  and  who,  with  his  br«)tlier,  resislwl 
the  jruards  sent  to  arrest  him,  was  drunk ;  tlieir  women  were  also  intoxi- 
cated. The  Indian  Scutd-doo,  who  shot  Mr.  Smith,  was  more  or  lesi* 
under  tin?  intluenc(f  of  licpior.  The,  white  men  have  been  arrested,  and 
are  now  in  conlinement. 

I  am,  general,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JEFK  C.  DAVIS, 
Brevet  Major  (lemrnl  Coinmawlinij. 

Urevet  MaJ.  iWw.  Wm.  I).  Wiiipplk, 

AHH't  Adj.  Gen' I,  Headquarters  Mil.  Div.  of  the  Pacific. 

llKADQl  AUTKIIS  MlLITAKY  DIVISION   OP  THE   PACIFIC, 

^'rtn  FranciKcn,  Fthruary  H,  1S70. 
Jtespectfully  forwarde<l  to  the  Adjutant  General. 

GEO.  n.  THOMAS, 
Major  General  U.  8.  A.  Commanding. 
Ofiicial: 

E.  D.  TOWNSKNI), 

Adjutant  General. 


IIeadqttartkrs  Fort  Wrangel, 

Wranfjel  Inland,  A.  T.,  December :M),  1 80!). 

Captain  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  for  tho 
information  of  the  major  K«"<-rjd  commanding  the  dei)artinent: 

About  ten  minutes  after  11  o'clock  on  the  night  of  D«'cember  2/5,  1809, 
it  was  rejiorted  to  me  that  one  of  llie  laundiesses,  Mrs.  Jacob  Muller, 
had  been  badly  injured  by  a  Stickine  Indian,  named  Lowaii,  he  having, 
while  in  her  house,  just  outside  of  the  stockade,  and  in  the  act  of  shak- 
ing liands  with  lier,  bitten  off  the  third  linger  of  her  riglit  hand  betweea 
the  first  an«l  seconil  joints,  her  husband,  quartermaster  sergeant  of  thin 
battery,  and  a  citizen,  named  Campbell,  being  present  at  the  time. 
Learning  what  had  taken  place,  and  that  the  Indian  had  escajied  to  tho 
ranch,  notwithstanding  llie  cflorts  of  the  sergeant  to  arrest  him,  I  im- 
mediately sent  Lieutenant  Loucks  with  u  detachment  of  twenty  men  to 
take  him,  with  iuHtructions  to  bring  him  in,  if  possible,  without  blood- 
shed, and  only  to  use  tlieir  arms  in  case  of  resistance  or  in  self  defeuHe. 
Lieutenant  Loucks  immediately  i)roceeded  to  execute  the  order  given 
him,  and  returned,  bringing  with  him  the  dead  body  of  the  Indian  Ix>wan 
and  his  brother  Kstone,  the  latter  being  badly  wounded  in  the  arm,  tho 
cause  of  violent  measures  having  been  resorted  to.  The  report  of  Liua- 
tenant  Loucks,  herewith  appended  and  marked  A,  will  fully  explain. 


1> 


Loiic 

your 

the  p 

gjirrii" 

dispos 

Hult<;( 

threat 

that 

the 

part  o 

fight 

tlieir 

ever, 

chang 

on   th 

shots 

return 

I)roxin 

detac 

tuiiate 

the  Ik 

di  recti 

of  the 

was  )ii 

opene 

media 

resist, 

lug  01 


SKA. 


HOMHAKDMKNT    OF    INDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WRANOKL,  ALASKA.      ,'J 


iiixl  hold 

rssciiti'il 

isiiti.'-ticd 

Alter  Ji 

liieiilcii- 

(•(1  ilH  llio 

■  for  Hoiiio 

s(>  of  tliiti 
hitf  iiu'ii 
iircil  Mio 
III  Kiwiiii, 
rcNistvii 
Iso  ititoxi- 
ro  or  U'HH 
>st('(l,  iind 


IS, 
landiiKj. 


S,  1.S70. 

x\S, 

))  tan  (ling. 

NI), 

General. 


,30,  1809. 
)()rfc  for  tlio 
It: 

er2r>,  18(59, 
•ob  Mailer, 
lie  iiaviiip^, 
u;t  of  Kiiiik- 
lul  between 
niiit  of  this 
,  tlie  titne. 
ii])e(l  to  the 
t  iiiiii,  I  iin- 
iiily  men  to 
liout  blood- 
:5elf  defeiiKC. 
order  given 
dian  Ijowan 
he  urm,  tho 
K>rt  of  Lieu- 
dly  explain. 


A(>pi'elieiidiiig  trouble,  I  iiiul  tiu'iie<l  out  the  entire  foree  under  inyt^oni- 
inand,  iiiid  >is  hooii  as  Ib-iii;^  was  heard  at  the  ranch  I  iiniuediately  sent 
a  detiu;hiiieiit  of  ten  nieii  as  far  as  the  store  of  tlie  post  trader,  some 
three  hiiiidre<l  yards  from  the  garrison,  witii  instruutions  to  act  in  con- 
cert witii  Lieutenant  Loucks's  i)arty,  should  th(\y  require  assistanc«>.  A 
picket  guard  was  stationed  around  the  eainp,  and  everything  placed  ii.. 
a  coinlition  of  defense. 

About  10  o'(;lock  a.  in.  of  the  morning  of  December  20, 1809,  the  ser- 
geant of  the  guard  re|)orted  several  shots  in  the  direction  of  the  store, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  word  was  brought  to  ine  that  Mr.  Leon  Smith, 
partner  of  the  post  trader,  W.  U.  Lear,  had  been  shot  near  the  door  of 
the  store.  Mr.  Siiiith  was  soon  after  brought  in  to  the  garrison  and 
taken  to  the  hospital,  where  his  wounds  were  examined  by  the  surgeon, 
who  pronouiH^ed  tlieni  of  a  most  serious  character,  fourteen  siiots  having 
penetrated  the  body  on  the  left  side.  Just  below  the  heart,  and  three  in 
the  left  wrist.  Nothing  further  occurred  during  the  night,  and  at  day- 
light in  the  morning  I  sent  Lieutenant  Loucks  again  to  the  ranch  with 
a  <leta(;hment  under  a  Hag  of  truce,  with  instructions  to  see  the  chief  of 
the  tribe,  Shakes,  and  demand  of  him  the  murderer,  the  Indians  to  turn 
tlie  man  over  to  him  there,  or  failing  in  that,  I  gave  them  until  12  o'clock 
that  day  to  bring  him  in,  notifying  them  that  if  at  "that  hour  the  man 
Hciitd-dor,  whom  I  knew  to  be  in  the  ranch,  was  not  in  my  custody,  1 
fthould  open  lire  upon  them  from  the  garrison.  I  also  directed  Lieuten- 
ant Jjoucks  to  inform  the  principal  chiefs  of  the  tribe,  Shakes,  Torryat, 
tihonta,  Hank,  and  Quaninanasty,that  I  wished  to  see  and  talk  with  them 
at  the  jiost  as  soon  as  practicable.  This  message  I  had  sent  to  each  of  tie 
chiefs  l)y  an  Indian  woman  before  Lieutenant  Loucks  left  tlie  post,  and 
I  am  confident  that  it  was  delivered.  For  the  result  of  Lieutenant 
Loucks's  interview  with  Shakes  and  Torryat,  I  would  respectfully  call 
your  attention  to  his  report.  On  the  return  of  Lieutenant  Loucks  to 
the  |)ost,  and  reiiorting  to  me  the  refusal  of  the  chiefs  to  come  to  the 
garrison,  their  indisposition  to  deliver  up  the  murderer,  and  the  hostile 
disposition  manifested  by  those  present,  all  of  whom  were  armed,  I  con- 
8ult<!d  with  the  oflicers  present  as  to  the  propriety  of  carrying  out  my 
threat  of  firing  on  the  village,  and  they  were  unanimous  in  the  opinion 
that  nothing  but  the  most  decided  measures  would  insure  the  safety  of 
the  ]»ost.  At  12  o'clock  no  signs  were  made  of  any  disposition  on  the 
part  of  the  Indians  to  comply  with  my  orders;  but  their  intentions  to 
fight  were  made  evident  by  the  numerous  persons  engaged  in  carrying 
their  goods  to  what  they  considered  places  of  safety.  1  waited,  how- 
ever, without  avail  until  nearly  2  o'clock,  hoping  that  they  might 
change  their  determination;  and  at  2  o'cloek  1  opened  with  solid  shot 
on  the  house  in  which  I  knew  tiie  murderer,  Scutdor,  resided;  several 
shots  struck  the  house,  but  the  Indians  maintained  their  ])ositi()n  and 
returned  the  fire  from  the  ranch,  several  of  their  shots  striking  in  close 
proximity  to  the  men.  Later  in  the  day  lire  was  ojiened  on  the  gun 
detachments  from  the  hills  in  rear  of  and  eommanding  the  post,  but  for- 
tunately without  effect.  This  was  replied  to  from  the  upper  windows  of 
the  hospital,  and,  in  ci  niiec  tion  with  a  few  rounds  of  earister  in  that 
direction,  soon  drove  tliem  away.  Firing  was  kept  up  on  their  part  all 
of  the  atternoon,  and  a  slow  fire  from  the  0-]Kmn(ler  gun  on  the  village 
was  maintained  until  dark.  The  next  morning,  Just  at  day-break,  they 
opened  on  the  garrison  from  the  ranch  with  musketry,  which  was  im- 
mediately replied  to,  and  seeing  that  they  were  determined  not  only  to 
resist,  but  had  become  the  assailants,  I  resolved  to  shell  them,  but  hav- 
ing only  solid  shot  for  the  0-pouiider,  and  the  distance  being  too  great 


4       IIOMIIAROMKN'T    OF    INDIAN    VILLACJK    AT    WRANOKL,  ALASKA. 


for  ciinistcr,  1  still  coiitiiiurtl  tlic  lii'<>  ridiii  tliiil  ^iiii  with  shot  iiiui  iVoin 
the  tiimiiit;iiii  iiKwilzcr  witli  shell.  The  i)r;i(t ire  Wiis  excellent,  coiisid- 
v.vU\<X  thiit  I  liinc  ii(»  lut'cch  si^ihts  lor  iiiiy  <»i' t he  ;;iiiis  iit  the  jiost — 
uot\\  itlistniidiii^  tli;it  three  re(|uisitioiiH  liatl  been  made  for  the  saim» — 
and  after  four  shells  liad  heeii  lired,  two  l)iirstiii<,'  iiiiiiiediately  in  front 
of  the  lionses,  and  two  solid  shots  just  tiironjih  t!ie  house  of  the  princi- 
pal eliiet,  Sliakes,  a  tia;;  of  truee  was  seen  approaching  the  post,  and 
iirin;jf  on  inypart  ceased.  The  lla;,' of  trnce  bi)re  a  inessa^c  from  Siiakes 
that  he  and  the  other  chiefs  wished  to  talk  with  me,  and  I  replied  that 
I  would  talk  with  them  in  the  f^arrison ;  hnt  that  the  murderer  must 
1)0  bron^jiit  in.  for  witln»ut  him  "  talk  was  useless." 

Soon  after  the  chiefs  were  seen  comiufj  over,  and  a  'party  hehind  them 
with  the  nnirderer,  who  was  easily  recojinized  l/v  liis  dress.  .lust  as 
they  were  leavinjuf  the  ranch  a  scuttle,  evi<h'!itly  prearranjicd,  took 
place,  and  the  prisoner  escaped  and  was  seen  makinj;'  for  the  hush,  im 
attempt  to  rearrest  him  bein;>'  nnule.  The  chiefs  on  their  arrival  at  the 
garrison  were  received  by  myself  airl  thi;  other  olheers,  and  a  conference 
ensued.  They  were  then  inforin«Ml  that  until  "the  murderer  was 
brought  in  no  terms  would  be?  extended  to  them;  that  <>n  that  basis 
alone  I  would  treat."  Finding  me  th'termiued  to  have  th(^  nnin  at  all 
hazards,  tliey  then  asked  what  time  would  be  givim,  and  stated  that  as 
a  proof  of  their  good  intentions  tlu'y  would  surrender  tonu'  the  mother 
of  the  murderer.  1  informed  them  that  they  must,  as  they  ju'oiiosed, 
bring  me  the  hostage  at  onco,  and  in  addition,  the  sub-chief  of  the  tribe 
to  which  the  murderer  belonged,  the  head  cliief  being  absent  up  the 
Stickine  Itiver;  and  that,  if  the  murderer  himself  was  not  in  my  pos- 
sesion by  .six  oVlock  the  following  evening,  I  would  ojjcu  on  them  and 
destroy  the  entire  ranch,  together  with  its  occupants. 

This  closed  the  confereiu'e,  and  during  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day 
the  woman  and  the  sub-chief  were  brought  in  and  i>laced  in  conlinement. 
That  evening,  about  nine  o'(!lock,  the  murderer  Soutdor  was  brought  in 
by  the  chiefs  and  surrendered  to  me.  The  next  niornjug,  December  27, 
a  court  was  organized  by  general  jiost  order  No.  7(5,  for  the  trial  of  the 
njurderer,  who  was  identified  by  the  live  chiefs  of  the  tribe  and  by  liia 
own  confession.  For  the  proceedings  of  the  trial  I  have  the  honor  to 
call  your  attention  to  the  accompanying  rei)ort  appended  and  nnvrked 
B.  In  pursuance  of  the  senteiuje  of  the  court,  the  man  was  duly 
executed  by  hanging,  at  twelve  o'clock  and  thirty  nnnntes,  on  the  29tli 
of  December,  38(50,  in  full  view  of  the  entire  ranch,  the  five  chiefs  and 
the  Indian  doctor  being  in  immediate  atteiulance  at  the  gallows.  The 
execution  ])ivssed  ott"  without  accident,  and  the  body  remained  hanging 
until  sun-down,  when,  by  my  ]>ermission,  it  was  taken  away  by  his 
friends. 

Too  nuich  praise  cannot  be  awarded  to  tlu!  otticers  and  men  of  this 
command  for  their  coolness  and  general  good  behavior,  parti<Milarly 
wlu'ii  it  is  remembered  that  twenty-two  <tf  the  men  were  new  re(!ruits, 
many  of  whom  had  never  seen  any  service.  1  wouhl  particularly  call 
the  attention  of  tlu^  major  general  commanding  the  dei)artmentto  First 
Lieutenant  IM.  Jt.  IiOU(!ks,  Second  Artillery,  whose  promptness  and  de- 
cision in  (tarrying  out  the  instructions  given  him  entitle  liim  to  the 
greatest  praise,  [)articularly  in  his  interview  with  the  chiefs  on  liia 
second  visit  to  the  ranch. 

1  would  also  call  youi'  attention  to  the  re])ort  of  Acting  Assistant  Sur- 
geon II.  M.  Hick.  United  States  Army,  inarkcd  (',  of  the  casualties 
which  occrred  during  the  trouble. 

In  eoiu'lusion,  I  can  only  say  that,  though  regretting  tlmt  extreme 


HKA. 

11(1  tVtuii 
,  coiisid-  j 
{•  jiost —  ' 
'  siiinc — 
ill  tVont 
ic  priiici- 
(ost,  and 
1  Shiiki's 
lieu  (hat 
rcr  inusi 

iiid  tlu'iii 
.Just  as 
0(1,  took 
bush,  no 
al  at  th(> 
)iircnMic(> 
nvY  was 
hat  basis 
an  at  all 
(I  that  as 

0  inothor 
l>r()i>oso(l, 
f  the  tribe 
it  up  the 

1  my  pos- 
thoin  and 

same  day 
itinement. 
rought  in 
'cmber  27, 
■ial  of  the 
nd  by  his 
^  honor  to 
d  marked 
was   duly 

1  the  29th 
ehiel's  and 
ows.  The 
i\  hangiiifj 
•ay  by  hi.s 

leii  of  this 
articularly 
iV  recu-uits, 
nilarly  call 
LMitto  First 
ess  and  do- 
lim  to  the 
iefs  on  his 

sistant  Sur- 

2  casualties 

lat  extreme 


HOMMAUDMKNT    OF    fNDfAN    VH.r.AiJn    AT    WRANOKr.,  ALAHKA.     5 

ineasurcs  iiad  to  lie  rcsorfcd  to,  yet,  iiiidcr  Ihs  ciiciiiiistiiiices  1  coiiHi(hT 
iiotliiiif,' else  woiihl  hav(^  a(M'oiiiplisii('(l  the  (»l>je(;f  in  viev — thatof  bring- 
iiig  INIr.  Hiiiilli's  iimnlcrer  to  Justice,  and  ie(hiciiig  (lie  Indians  to  a  state 
of  subject  ion  to  the  United  States  aiilh(U'ity.  lOverytiiing  is  now  (piic^t, 
and  I  iiave  no  reason  to  anticipate  any  I'litiire  trouble;  yet  my  vigilance 
is  ii'»t  reinilted,  nor  will  it  he,  as  I  ha\('  no  conlldencc  in  any  ]>romises 
\uiuU',  by  Indians.  They  have  shown  their  hostih^  feelings  in  this  in- 
stance, and  it  is  only  through  fear  and  the  knowledge  that  any  criuH! 
(joiumitted  i»y  them  will  meet  with  proiiijit  imiiishmciit,  that  will  keep 
them  in  |)r(i|icr  subjection. 

I  would  also  re(piest  that  the  thirty-poniid  Parrot  gun  asked  for  in 
my  last  rcfpiisition  may  be  sent  to  me  at  as  early  a.  date  as  i)ra<!ti<!able, 
for,  had  that  gnu  been  in  im.^ition,  I  think  two  percussion  shells  would 
have  brought  tln^  Indians  to  tcrr 

Mr.  Hinith  died  at  eleven  o'clock  ot  the  niglit  of  the  2(>th  of  Dtioera- 
ber,  1<S()!).  His  siitfering.''  ere  terriiile.  and  death  must  have  been  a 
relief. 

Trusting  that  my  action  may  meet  with  the  approval  of  the  major 
general  commanding  the  department, 

I  am,  captain,  verv  respectfu'ilv,  your  obedient  servant, 

VV.  IJOKUOWE, 
First  lAvutenant  Second  Artillerfj. 

IJrevet  Captain  S.  Ji.  MoIntvue, 

A.  A.  A.  GeneraU  J)<'parfment  Alaska,  Sitkn,  Alaska. 


A  true  copy. 

SAM'L  15.  M(!lNTIIiK 

First  lAeut.  Se<;nnd  Artillert/.  and  livi.  (Japf.  U.  S.  A.,  A.  A.  . 


O. 


A. 

I'\)IM'  WjiAN(ii;L,  WUANGKL  JSLAND,  A.  T,, 

December  20,  18(Jl). 

Sir:  About  12  o'clock  midnight,  on  the  night  of  the  25th  December, 
18(it),  it  was  rei)orted  through  the  garrison  that  the  wife  of  Quarter- 
master Sergeant  Midler,  battery  I,  Se(ron(l  Artillery,  had  had  her  tingor 
bitten  olf  by  an  Indian.  I  proceeded  t(»  her  (piarters  to  verify  the  re- 
port, and  there  saw  that  the  third  linger  of  her  right  hand  h.'l  been 
bitt<^n  or  torn  olf  by  an  Indian  named  Si-wau,  as  all  i)resent  staic-d.  I 
returned  for  my  saber  and  belt,  re]»orted  to  the  commanding  oflieer,  then 
set  otr  lor  th(^  Indian  village  with  a  detaehment  of  twenty  men  to  arrest 
the  Indian  Si-wan.  llavingarrived  in  tliatixntion  of  the  village  nearest 
to  the  garrison,  1  intended  to  enter  Towye-at's  house,  exp(>cting  to  find 
there  the  Indian  I  wanted. 

liefore  entering  Tow-yc;  at's  house,  1  met  an  Indian  in  a  red  ca])  and 
shirt,  named  S(!ii(lt-doo,*  who,  upon  being  asked  to  do  so,  told  me  thiit 
Si-wau  had  left  Tow  ye-al's  house  and  gone  to  another  ne;>r  by,  which 
he  pointed  out  to  me.  1  entiu-ed  the  house  with  twelve  men,  leaving  the 
remainder  to  guard  the  entrance  outside.  Si-wau  was  sitting  down  near 
the  tire  opposite  the  entrance,  with  nothing  on  but  pants.  The  position 
of  the  detachment  in  the  house  formed  in  single  rank  along  t  -e  nearest 
side  of  the  quadrangular  space,  with  instructions  to  tiro  whenever  I 

*Tlii.s  i.H  tlic  Inili.-m  wlii>  '<iil>si(]iii'ntly  sliof.  Jlr.  Riiiith. 


iHai 


6       BOMBARDMENT   OF    INDIAN    VILLAGE   AT    WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 

f^hould  give  the  signal.  With  Si-wau  there  were  Eateen,  his  brother, 
Si-wan's ,  klootchman,  (wile,)  and  ohl  Klootchman,  (woman,)  who  was 
sitting  np,  and  perhaps  a  few  others  sleeping  in  different  parts  of  the 
house.  1  tapped  Si-wau  on  the  shoulder,  saying  that  1  wanted  liim  to 
come  with  me.  He  arose  from  his  sitting  posture  and  said  he  would  put 
on  his  vest ;  after  that  he  wished  to  get  his  coat.  Feeling  convinced 
that  this  was  merely  to  gain  time,  that  he  wished  to  trilie  with  me,  1 
began  to  ha  more  urgent.  Si-wau  appeared  less  and  less  inclined  to 
come  away  witli  me,  and  in  this,  the  latter  part  of  the  jjaiiey,  he  became 
impudent  and  menacing  in  raising  his  hands  as  if  to  strike  me.  1  ad- 
monished him  against  such  actions,  and  tried  my  utmost  to  avoid  ex- 
treme measures  in  arresting  him.  About  this  time,  Esteen,  probably 
apprehending  danger  to  his  brother  Si-wau,  rushed  forward  in  front  of 
the  detachment,  extending  his  arms  theatrically  aiul  exclaiming,  as  I 
supposed  under  the  circumstances,  "Shoot;  kill  me;  I  am  not  afraid." 
Si-wau  seeitjgthis,  also  rushed  ui)on  thedetachment,  endeavoringto  snatch 
a  musket  away  from  one  of  the  men  on  the  right  of  the  detachmout. 
Still  wishing  to  avoid  loss  of  life  if  possible,  I  tried  to  give  him  two  or 
three  saber  cuts  over  the  head  to  stun  without  killing  him. 

In  doing  this  I  had  given  the  i)reconcerted  signal  (by  raising  my  hand) 
to  tire.  I  should  Judge  about  six  or  eight  shots  were  tired  <luring  the 
melee,  and  only  ceasing  by  the  Indian  Si-wau  fulling  at  the  feet  of 
the  detachment  dead.  Esteen  and  the  others  running  to  their  holes, 
everything  became  quiet.  I  then  directed  the  detachment  not  to  reiu'w 
the  tiring  until  further  orders.  I  had  Esteen  pulled  out,  and  discovered 
he  was  bleeding  profusely  from  a  wound  in  his  right  arm  near  t)»e 
shoulder.  Two  handkerchiefs  were  tied  around  his  arm  above  the  wound 
to  check  the  bleeding.  My  first  thought  was  to  arrest  him  also,  for  in- 
terference, but  afterward  considering  that  he  was  intoxicated,  aiul  that 
his  interference  was  to  protect  his  brother  Si-wau,  who,  in  my  opinion, 
was  in  the  same  condition  of  intoxication,  I  concluded  that  he  had  been 
sufflciently  punished,  and  directed  that  he  be  carried  over  to  the  hospi- 
tal for  treatment,  aiul  that  the  dead  Indian  should  be  carrie<l  over  t,o 
the  guard-house. 

Wiiile  preparing  to  carry  over  tlie  two  Indians,  a  tumult  of  challeng- 
ing by  tiie  guard  outside  the  house,  and  Indians  shouting  to  their 
friends,  Oegan.  Leaving  First  Sergeant  Dean  to  sui)erintend  prepara- 
tions for  the  transportation  of  the  Indians,  I  went  outride  aiul  found 
tliere,  near  the  door,  the  sub  chief,  Tow-ye-at,  who,  I  suppose;,  did  the 
shouting,  and  was  the  cause  of  the  challenging.  At  thsit  tinu^  I  could 
not  see  whether  Tow-ye-at  wa;*  armed  or  not,  althougli  th<!  men  said  lie 
had  a  knife,  and  to  beware  of  him.  I  told  liim  (Tow-ye  at)  that  1  had 
finished  my  business,  and  that  I  was  about  to  return  with  tlie  men.  I 
told  him  that  if  he  wislied  to  say  anything  to  the  soldier  Ty-ee,  he  could 
do  so  in  the  morning.  With  that  1  gently  led  him  toward  the  house 
and  advised  him  to  go  to  bed.  That  was  the  last  I  saw  of  Tow-ye-at 
that  night. 

The  two  Indians  were  a<!Coi'diiigly  brought  over  and  the  result  re 
ported  to  the  (H)mmaiidip_<;-  ollicer.  I  dismissed  the  detachment,  and 
supposing  iNj  further  distuibanci;  would  octuir,  was  sitting  in  i)ost  sur- 
geon's (juarters,  when,  about  an  hour  or  thereal)()uts  after  my  return,  a 
shot  was  heard  from  the  <lire(!tion  of  the  store  of  the  ])()st  trader.  Tak- 
ing with  me  i'livate  Magee  I  ran  down  there,  and  while  on  the  way  Pri- 
vate I\Iagee  drew  my  attention  to  an  object  lying  on  the  ground  near 
the  plank  walk  running  between  the  store  and  tlie  ganison.  Upon  ex- 
amination it  proved  to  be  iMr.  Leon  Smith,  the  partner  of  William  King 


proof 


view 
openec 
all  that 
the  mil 
friends 
and  en 
that  t 
garriso 
escori. 
did  ass 
to  avoi 
contim 
pistols, 
ing  tli 
afi'airs 
of  one 
and  re 
be  sati 
hour  o 
and  mi 
of  his 
as  he  I 
were, 
and  fli 
Shakct 


\.SRA. 


BOMBARDMENT    OF    TNDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WRANGliL,  ALASKA.      7 


■J  brother, 
wlio  was 
rts  of  the 
ed  him  to 
rt'ould  put 
convinced 
rith  me,  I 
iicliiied  to 
le  became 
ne.  1  ad- 
avoid  ex- 
probably 
in  front  of 
ninj?,  as  I 
ot  afraid." 
{>•  to  snatch 
tacliioeut. 
im  two  or 

>•  my  liand) 
(luring  the 
the  feet  of 
heir  holes, 
it  to  renew 

discovered 
I  near  t)ie 

the  wound 
also,  for  in- 
l,  and  that 
iiy  opinion, 
uj  had  been 
» the  hospi 
ied  over  to 

)f  challeng- 
ng  to  their 
id  prcpara- 
and  found 
ise,  did  the 
;inie  I  could 
nen  said  he 
)  that  I  had 
the.  nien.  1 
■CO,  he  could 
1  tlie  house 
)f  Tow-ye-at 

ic,  result  re 
•hinent,  and 
in  i)ost  sur- 
iny  return,  a 
nider.  Tak- 
the  way  Pri- 
jjround  near 
I.  Upon  ex- 
VilliatuKing 


I>ear,  the  post  trader.  Mr.  Smith  was  lying  on  his  breast  npon  a  low 
stuntp  nloiigside  of  the  ])lank  walk,  witii  arms  extended  and  a  revolv- 
ing pistol  fsMlen  from  the  grasp  of  tlie  right  hand.  1  first  sui)p()sed  him 
dead,  but  by  jilacing  him  in  a  more  comfoitable  position  and  speaking, 
to  him,  he  groaned  mei-ely.  I  tlien  sent  to  the  garrison  for  a  stretcher 
and  men.    At  about  this  time  Gleason  and  Henderson  came  up. 

In  order  to  preserve  the  body  from  attempted  mutilation,  the  thi-ee 
]»resent  posted  themselves  near  by  to  look  out  for  Indians  in  ambush. 
After  a  few  moments  I  went  up  in  front  of  the  store,  and  told  those  in- 
side to  bring  out  a  blanket  with  which  to  carry  Mr.  kSmith  to  the  hos- 
j)itjil.  This  done,  I  posted  three  men,  who  had  been  previously  sent  to 
defend  the  store,  behind  obstacles  in  Irout  of  it.  After  having  remained 
posted  with  the  pickets  a  short  time  in  order  to  understand  tiie  coiuli- 
tion  of  things  around  the  store,  and  to  observe  any  movements  in  the 
village,  I  returiu'd  to  the  garrison  to  inquire  into  the  circumstances  of 
the  shooting  of  Mr.  Smith,  and  to  receive  orders  in  the  case.  Directly 
after  reveille,  according  to  instructions,  I  i)roceeded  with  a  detachment 
of  twenty  men  under  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  Indian  village,  to  demand 
that  the  chiefs  should  come  over  to  tlie  garrison  to  settle  tlie  ditliculty 
by  giving  np  the  murderer  of  Mr.  Smith,  at  or  before  12  o'clock  m.  that 
(lay;  or,  failing  in  this,  that  the  commanding  officer  would  open  fire  upon 
the  Indian  village  at  tlie  expiration  of  the  time  allowed  in  which  the 
surrender  of  the  murderer  was  to  liave  been  made. 

When  within  abouv  a  hundred  yards  of  the  village,  my  interpreter 
pointed  out  an  Indian  in  a  red  (!oat  as  the  one  that  the  Indian  chiefs  . 
were  demanded  to  surrender.  My  instructions,  and  especially  the  ilag 
of  truce  at  the  head  of  the  detachment,  as  well  as  the  lack  of  positive 
})roof  of  identity,  precluded  any  exercise  of  force  to  make  any  arrest 
this  time,  or  to  bring  him  down  with  a  volley.  I  there  met  Tow-ye-at 
in  his  war  paint  and  fighting  costume,  and  communicated  to  him  the 
demands  of  the  commanding  officer.  Tow-ye-at  refused  both  the  inter- 
view and  the  surrender  of  the  murderer.  He  stated  twicethatif  fire  was 
opened  npon  the  village  he  would  die  in  his  house.  I  exi)lained  to  them 
ail  that  the  commanding  officer  was  not  angry  with  all  of  them,  only  with 
the  murderer  of  IMr.  Smith,  and  that  if  the  murderer  was  surrendered, 
friendship  and  good  feeling  would  return ;  and  still  earnestly  wishing 
and  endeavoring  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  opening  tire,  1  ])roposed  even 
that  the  commanding  officer  might  meet  the  chiefs  half  way  between  the 
garrison  and  the  village,  all  parties  (o  the  interview  without  an  armed 
escori.  Tow-ye-at  refused  the  demands  and  the  modifications  which  I 
did  assume  to  make  in  order  to  discover  the  least  desire  on  their  part 
to  avoid  trouble.  Tow-ye-at  was  stiff.  The  members  of  his  tribe  were 
continually  assembling,  armed  with  Hudson  liay  muskets,' iron  spears, 
pistols,  &c.,  and  more  than  half  eurroiuiding  me  at  ditferent  times  dur- 
ing tlie  interview,  in  their  eagerness,  and,  judging  from  the  aspect  of 
affairs  generally,  evidentlj  determined  to  have  revenge  for  the  killing 
of  one  and  wounding  of  another  Indian  the  night  before.  1  iiisistecl 
and  repeated  to  Tow-ye  at  that  by  having  the  interview  everything  could 
be  satisfactorily  arranged ;  but  all  to  no  purpose.  Mter  a  talk  of  an 
hour  or  so  with  Tow-ye-at  and  his  friends,  including  also  Mo-naw-is-ty, 
and  many  of  his  friends  who  were  within  hearing,  Shakes  at  the  head 
of  his  own  tribe  came  over  and  took  part  in  the  interview.  His  manner 
as  ho  approached  was  quite  selt-importaiit.  His  friends,  like  Tow-ye-at, 
were,  with  few  exceptions,  armed  with  flint  lock  muskets,  with  thumb 
and  finger  ready  to  cock  their  pieces  and  open  fire  in  grand  style.  With 
Shakes's  friends,  added  to  those  already  on  the  grounds,  about  one-half 


8       I50MHARDMKNT    OF    INDIAN    VILLAGK    AT    WRAXGEL,  ALASKA. 

of  tilt',  biuiks  of  tlio  Stivkooii  tribe  woio  sissembled,  I  th 
Sliakes  of  the  demaiuls  of  the  eonnimiKliiiff  ollicer,  but  with  no  more 
sueeess  than  with  Tow-ye-at,  witli  the  addition,  however,  th<at  if  the 
commanding  olfieer  wished  to  see  him,  he(tliecommandin}jf  olliuer)eould 
come  over  to  the  village  to  do  so. 

I  told  them  all  again  that  their  village  would  be  destroyed  like  the 
Kaik  village  last  winter,  and  that  wherever  Anu'rinan  steamers  found 
them  the  same  thing  would  be  dcnn;  again.  I  also  made  incjniriesin  ref- 
erence to  Corporal  oSIorthroi*,  Uatteiy  J,  Second  Artillery,  wlio,  it  was  sup- 
posed, had  be(!n  in  the  village  the  night  previous,  and  not  been  seen  since 
that  night.  All  said  that  he  had  gone;  some  said  over  to  the  garrison 
in  a  canoe,  and  others  said  he  was  <lruMk  in  the  bushes. 

I  explained  to  them  until  I  was  tired  of  it,  tiiat  the  commaiuling  olli- 
cer only  wished  a  friendly  interview,  and  that  it  was  but  one  Indian  lie 
waiiteil,  the  nuirderer  of  iVlr.  Smith. 

Shakes  in(li(!iited  that  lie  had  no  more  to  say,  and  believing  myself 
that  the  whole  matter  had  been  fully  explained  to  them  all,  nothing  re- 
mained but  to  retiuii  to  make  my  icport  of  the  result. 

Th(!  Indians,  so  far  from  acceding  to  the  demands  in  the  beginning  of 
the  interview,  became  more  and  more  stubborn  as  their  numbers  in- 
creased, and  insUnul  of  facilitating  a  peae(^ful  settlement  of  the  diliieul- 
ties,  it  seemed  to  me  more  probable  they  might  have  been  increased  by 
an  accident  even. 

1  consider  that  under  the  cinuimstances  everything  possible  was  done 
to  (iflect  a  peacelul  settUMuent,  and  nothing  remained  but  to  execute  the 
threat  attached  or  included  in  the  demaiul. 

licspectfullv  submitted. 

M.  K.  LOUCKS, 
First  Lieut.  Necond  ArtiUerij,  Officer  of  the  J)ay, 

First  Lieutenant  W.  Uokrowk, 

l^'-fond  Artillery,  Corumandiwj. 

A  true  coi)v. 

SAM'L  II.  MclNTIltE, 
First  Lieut.  Sceond  ArtilUry  and  livt.  t'upt.  U.  »S'.  A.,  A.  A.  A.  (J. 


B. 

FOET  WKA^'GKL,  WUANGlOf.  ISLAND,  ALASKA, 

December  2H,  ISm. 

Proceedings  of  a  trial  of  a  StaJccen  Indian,  named  Soutddoo,  at  Fort 
Wranptl,  Wrangel  Island,  Alaska,  in  accordance  with  the  fol hiving  or- 
der, i'^jlr  ; 

Hr.AIHiUAllTKHS  KOKT  WltAMiKI,,  Wl!AN(i  I'.l.  Isi.ANK,  A.  T., 

Dacembcr  '27,  1869. 
[Gpuftiiil  OrilciH  Ni).  7().] 

I'nimpt  ami  (loniilorl  nstioii  b  i'm-^  alunliif.iily  iiDOfssiirv,  t1in  fi»lli)wiii;^-ua'iii)il  ofllcors 
and  <titiX(MiN  will  itsHciiiblo  at  tliiH  |Mi.st  to-iiKirrow,  Mio  '^-<Mi  iimtiiiit,  at  1;!  o'clock  in.,  tor 
the  ti'iul  lit'  iin  liidiiiii,  ii.iiiumI  Hciitil-doo,  tor  tlio  willful  iiiiirtU^r  on  tlio  iiioriiiii^  of  De- 
cember M,  ISi't'J,  of  Li'oii  Siiiitli,  a  citi/i'ii  of  tlio  United  StutcH,  ut  Wrangel  iHlaiul, 
MtiHkii. 

Dotivil:  Fimt.  LiciitciiMiit  Wtn.  Horrowt*,  Socotid  iirtilliTV  ;  First  Tiicutciisint  M.  It. 
l^onckH,  Ht'.coiid  artillory  ;  Actiiij^  Assistiiiit  Siirj^non  It.  M.  Kirko  L.  8.  A.;  William  K. 
Lear,  jiost  trader.     I'irst  Licutcuii\it  Al.  li.  Loucks  will  ai;t  a.s  recorder. 

WM.  IJORKOWE, 
[<'irnt  Lu'titfiiant  Second  Artillery,  Commanding. 


iKA. 


10  more 
it  if  the 
lii)  could 

like  the 
rs  IbuiKl 
ies  in  ret- 
V  as  sup- 
(HMi  since 
jjjanison 

ilinjjf  otU- 
lulian  he 

lo-  myself 
itliing  re- 

jiiuningof 
inbers  in- 
le  diHicul- 
reused  by 

i  was  done 
x  ecu  to  tbe 


the  Day. 


.1.  A.  (L 


lis,  1801). 

00,  at  Fort 
)lloicing  or- 


A.  T., 

Iwr  '27,  1869. 


Mioil  olllcors 
o'clock  111.,  ior 
(iriiiii;^  of  t*»- 
!iii«ol  iHland, 

itoiiivnt  M.  It. 
,;  WilUai"  K. 

HOWE, 
'JommoHthng^ 


BOMBARDMENT    OF    INDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WUANGEL,  ALASKA.       9 


FonT  Wrangkl,  Wkanoel  Islam), 

December  28,  1809—12  o'clock  m. 

Present :  All  the  officers  and  citizens  named  in  the  above  order;  also 
the  following  named  Stakeen  (ihiefs : 

1.  Shakes,  Kah-ous-tay  Hah  Kotsk.  2.  Tou-ye-al  Uoots.  3.  Shus- 
tah-ack  Konn  Kay.    4.  Qu-naw-is-tay  Kosh-Keh.     .^5.  Klah-Keh. 

Present :  Scutd-doo,  Wiuh-tah,  the  prisoner. 

First  Lieuteimnt  Wm.  Eorrowe,  Second  Artillerj',  stated  that  the  pris- 
oner, on  the  night  of  the  27th  December,  180!),  confessed  himself  to  be 
the  Indian  who  murdered  Mr.  Leon  Smith. 

Each  one  of  the  above-mentioned  chiefs  identified  the  prisoner  as  the 
murderer  of  Mr.  Leon  Smith,  the  partner  of  the  post  trader  at  Fort 
Wrangel,  Alaska  Territory.  Shakes,  as  well  as  all  the  other  chiefs,  upon 
being  asked  what  punishment  should  be  inflicted  upon  the  i)risoner  for 
his  crime,  say  they  agree  to  whatever  punishment  that  may  be  neces- 
sary. It  is  then  announced  that  it  is  the  will  of  the  officers  and  citizens 
l)resent  during  the  trial  that  the  prisoner,  the  Indian  S(;utd-doo,  at  mid- 
day December  29,  18G9,  shall  be  hanged  by  the  neck  until  dead,  in  pres- 
ence of  the  troops,  citizens,  and  the  five  Stakeen  chiefs,  and  that  he 
should  remain  so  hanging  until  nightfall,  when  his  friends  could  remove 
the  body.    To  which  all  the  chiefs  assented. 

The  prisoner,  upon  hearing  this,  replied,  very  well ;  that  he  had  killed 
a  tyhee,  and  not  a  common  man;  that  he  would  see  Mr.  Smith  in  the 
other  world,  and,  as  it  were,  explain  to  him  how  it  all  hap])ene(l ;  that 
he  did  not  intend  to  kill  Mr.  Leon  Smith,  particularly;  had  it  been  any 
one  else  it  would  have  been  all  the  same. 

WM.  BORROWE, 
First  Lieutenant  Second  Artillery,  Premlent. 

M.  R.  LOUCKS, 
First  lAeutenant  Second  Artillery,  Recorder. 
H.  M.  KIRKE, 
Acting  Assi,^tant  Surgeon  U.  S.  A.,  Member  of  Court. 

The  prisoner  was  then  returned  to  the  guard  for  confinement,  till  the 
hour  of  his  execution,  whereupon  the  trial  closed. 

WM.  BORROWE, 
Firnt  Lieutetiant  Second.  Artillery,  President. 

M.  R.  LOUCKS, 
First -Lieutenant  Second  Artillery,  Recorder. 
H.  M.  KIRKB, 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon  U.  S.  A.,  Member  of  Court. 


Headquarters  Fort  Wrangel, 

Wrangel  Island,  Alaska  Territory, 

December  2S,  1SG9. 

The  foregoing  proceedings  are  approved,  and  the  sentence  of  the  court 
.'ill  be  carried  into  eft'ect ;  the  prisoner,  Scutd-doo,  will  be  e.vocuted  at 
2  o'clock  m.  of  the  29th  of  December,  18(59. 

WM.  BORROWE, 
,  First  rdeuteiwh  Second  Artillery,  Commanding. 

A  true  <'opy.  S 

SAML.  B.  MolNTIRE, 
First  Lieut.  Second  Artillery,  and  Bvt.  Capt  U.  S.  A.,  A.  A.  A.  O. 
8.  Ex.  Doc.  67 2 


..'-  :!'■!< 'r 


10    BOMBARDMENT   OP  INDIAN  VILLAGE   AT   WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 

,,.■  ..®,-- ;>-.'■        ,./  ■     - 

POST  HOSVITAL,  FOKT  "WBA^GEL, 

WRANGEL   ISLANB,  Al^ASKAj^ERlUlORY,^^^^ 

Sm:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  as  the  result  of  the  late  ludiau 
^''Sil^ll)  white  man,  Mr.  Leou  Smith,  killed.        ,,...,..:     ' 

One  (1)  Indian  killed.  i.^mulress  flncer  bitten  off. 

One  Id  white  ^voma.,  eom W^^^^  ^^.^^^^  ^^  ^^,  right 

One  (1)  Indian  severely  w  ouuutu,  u^  b" 

humerus. ,  - ,  •  f, 

°"1^i^:i:^S'?-pectfun.v,  yo-  Obedient  -^V,^^, 

A  true  copy.  v    .    :  saM'L  B.  MxiiIlJfTIRE, 


41ST  Con 

2d  /S'es; 


THE 


In  compi 
of  the 
to  the  . 
village 


Makcii  2S 


O 


-Vf»'> 


Sir:] 
I  have  t 
cent  Co 
lage  of  ^ 
in  the  h 
village 
troops." 


*  /V  UU'l^  ''  ^ 


Hon. 


■f\   ■' 


Sir: 
calling 
tory  as 
panyin 
ing  the 
the  Un 
report. 


:fr,  '-.J- 


\'*:^t*  OH 


*^fc^  i 


Hon, 


3KA. 


1869. 
ludiuu 


;kj  right 


rmy, 
ospital. 


IE,     ., 

S.A., 

General. 


41ST  Congress, 
2cl  ;S'e«.stott. 


SENATE. 


Ex.  Doc. 
No.  08. 


LETTER 


OF 


THE   SECRETARY    OF    THE   INTERIOR 


COMMUNICATING, 


In  compliance  with  a  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  lith  instant,  so  7nicch 
of  the  report  of  Vincent  (Jolyer,  special  Indian  commissioner,  as  relates 
to  the  Indian  village  of  Wrauf/el,  Alaska,  showing  the  condition  of  that 
village  previous  to  its  recent  bombardment  by  United  States  troops. 


>{akch  22,  1870. — Referred  to  the  Cominitteo  on  Military  Aifairs  and  ordered  to  be 

printed. 


Department  of  the  Interior, 

Washington,  I).  C,  March  22,  1870. 

Sir  :  In  compliance  with  a  resolution  of  the  Senate,  of  the  14th  instant, 
I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  '•  so  much  of  the  report  of  Vin- 
cent Colyer,  special  Indian  commissioner,  as  relates  to  the  Iiulian  vil- 
lage of  Wrangel,  Alaska,  including  the  accompanying  illustrations,  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  government  printer,  showing  the  condition  of  that 
village  previous  to  its  recent  bombardment  by  the  United  States 
troops." 

*     Very  respectfully,  \oui'  obedient  servant, 

W.  T.  OTTO, 

Acting  Secretary. 
Hon.  Schuyler  Colfax, 

President  of  the  Senate. 


Washington,  Di  C.,- March  IG,  1870. 
Sir  :  In  response  to  the  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States, 
calling  for  "  so  much  of  my  report  on  the  Indian  tribes  of  Alaska  Terri- 
tory as  relates  to  the  Indian  village  of  Wrangel,  including  the  accom- 
panying illustrations,  now  in  the  hands  of  the  government  i)rinter,  show- 
ing the  condition  of  that  village  previous  to  its  recent  bond)ardment  by 
the  United  States  troops,"  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following 
report. 

Sincerely,  your  obedient  servant, 

VINCENT  COLYER, 
Secretary  Board  of  Indian  (Jommisaioners. 
Hon.  J.  D.  Cox, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior. 


2 


WRA]S«»EL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO   BOMBARDMENT. 


WRANGEL. 


The  Indian  village  of  Wrangel  is  in  latitude  50°  27'  20",  and  132°  13 
15"  west,  or  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles  north  of  the  boundary 
line  of  British  Columbia.  It  is  located  on  a  tongue  of  land  and  cove  in 
the  northwest  shore  of  Wrangel  Island.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the 
cove  or  other  horn  of  the  Crescent,  the  United  States  post  is  established 
about  eight  hundred  yards  distant,  with  its  guns  commanding  the  vil- 
lage.* There  are  thirty-two  houses  in  the  village,  and  when  all  are  at 
home  there  are  Ave  hundred  and  eight  inhabitants.  Of  these,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-nine  are  men,  and  three  hundred  and  forty-nine  are  women 
and  children.  (See  Appendix  A.)  Of  the  men,  about  one-half  may  be 
capable  of  bearing  arms,  (as  with  us.)  A  number  of  the  more  athletic 
are  usually  absent  with  the  principal  chief  up  the  Stikine  Itiver,  trading 
■with  the  natives  of  the  interior.  Their  weapons  of  defense  are  a  few  old 
flint-lock  muskets — mostly  of  Russian  make — some  pikes,  and  knives,  as 
they  live  by  Ashing,  and  the  peaceful  interchange  of  smoked  salmon  and 
ulicum  oil,  for  furs,  &c.,  with  the  Indians  of  the  interior.  (See  Appendix 
B  and  F.) 

Sketch  No.  1  on  the  opposite  page,  shows  the  portion  of  the  village 
recently  bombarded,  which  is  located  on  the  bay  nearest  the  United 
States  post,  and  sketch  No.  2  is  a  rapidly  engraved  sketch  of  the  gov- 
ernment post  on  which  he  guns  are  located.  The  right  of  Sketch  No. 
2  Joins  on  to  the  left  of  Sketch  No.  1,  and  as  seen  thus  shows  the  nar- 
row cove  across  which  the  shelling  of  the  village  took  place.  The  small 
log-house  and  bowling  alley  to  the  right  on  Sketch  No.  2  is  Leon  Saiith's, 
the  post-trader's  store. 

To  the  right  of  the  portion  of  the  Indian  village,  as  seen  in  Sketch  No. 
1  and  out  of  the  picture,  is  the  residence  of  the.  widow  of  Skillat,  the 
old  chief  of  the  Stikine  tribe  at  Wranerel.  Sketch  No.  3,  with  a  view  of 
the  interior,  Sketch  No.  4.  Further  on  is  a  picture  of  Shek's  house, 
through  which  a  couple  of  six-pound  solid  shot  were  thrown— Sketch 
No.  5. 

INDIAN  HOUSES  AT  WRANGEL. 


^  e  houses  are  well  constructed  habitations,  built  of  plank  fastened 
on  heavy  timbers,  well  morticed  together.  They  are  large,  being  about 
forty  by  ttfty  feet  square,  one  story  high,  and  subdivided  within  into 
smaller  apartments.  The  interior  apartments  were,  doubtless,  copied 
by  the  Indians  from  ships'  cabins,  as  these  were  the  kind  of  habitations 
mostly  seen  by  the  natives  on  board  the  ships  so  frequently  visiting 
their  coast ;  and  this  illustrates  quite  remarkably  the  ability  of  these 
Indians  to  improve,  and  the  quickness  and  skill  at  imitation. 

These  cabins,  or  private  sleeping-rooais  of  one  family,  are  seen  in 
Sketch  No,  4,  built  on  raifjd  platforms,  xhey  are  as  neatly  ttnished  as 
most  whaling  ships'  cabi'.^,  and  have  bunks,  or  places  for  beds,  built  on 
the  inside  around  the  sides.  They  vary  in  size,  being  usually  about  ten 
by  twenty  feet,  with  ceilings  seven  feet  high. 

Some  of  the  young  men  are  quite  skillful  mechanics,  handling  car- 
penters' tools  with  faciility,  and  if  you  will  closely  examine  the  sketch 
you  will  see  that  there  is  a  floor  and  raised  platform  of  boards,  neatly 
fastL'ned  together,  below  the  private  cabins  or  rooms  spoken  of,  so  that 
the  amount  of  carpenter  work  about  one  of  these  houses  is  consider- 
able. 


i 


*  The  post  is  garrisoned  by  Company  I,  Second  Uuited  States  Artillery,  First  Lieu- 
tenant W.  Borrowos,  uummauding. 


T. 


nd  132°  13 
boundary 
and  covo  in 
.side  of  the 
established 
iiij?  the  vil- 
all  are  at 
ie,  one  hun- 
are  women 
alf  may  be 
ore  atliletic 
er,  trading 
I'  a  lew  old 
1  knives,  as 
salmon  and 
ie  Appendix 

'  the  village 
the  United 
of  the  gov- 
Sicetch  No. 

ws  the  nar- 
The  small 

eon  Smith's, 

I  Sketch  No. 
Skillat,  the 
ith  a  view  of 
hek's  house, 
iwu — Sketch 


ink  fastened 
being  about 
within  into 
tless,  copied 
t'  habitations 
iitly  visiting 
lity  of  these 
n. 

are  seen  in 
y  finished  as 
eds,  built  on 
,ly  about  ten 

landling  car- 
5  the  sketch 
)ard3,  neatly 
m  of,  so  that 
is  consider- 


ry,  First  Lieu- 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 

I  tiff 


-L-.-a-a.,.,.- ,..——.  ■  .^r' 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO   BOMBARDMENT. 


They  hi 
their  lire 
covered  v 
according 
which  tl 
cliimuey, 
covered  v 
You  \v 
the  cabin 
and  otlie 
them  for 
oiled,  an( 
our  trunli 
Some  0 
as  seen  ii 
These 
lacts  in  t 
In  Iron 
prevent  t 
lor  the  ( 
.  securely 
I  attacks. 
I  circular  i 
I  of  the  pli 
I      In  fron 
I  carved,  v 
I  laces,  an( 
the  histo 
Hy  referi 
^ra.ved)  i 
is  an  enl; 
colossal 
on.    Al 
A'ould  b( 
taste,  an 
iiecessiti 
In  tin 
entirely 
niodele( 
<lressed 
Sketch 


Thet 
Indians 
trader, 
"  I  havd 
Again, 
whites.' 
"The   I 
anxious 
hesitati 
and   wi 
taken  o 


WRANQEL,   ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO    BOMBARDMENT. 


5 


They  have  a  hirge  opening  i"  the  roof,  through  which  tlio  smoke  of 
their  lire  i)asaes,  as  seen  in  No.  4.  ITsually,  this  opening  in  the  roof  is 
covered  witli  loose  boards,  which  are  placed  on  either  side  of  the  roof, 
ac(!ording  as  the  wind  may  blow,  always  with  an  oi)ening  left,  through 
which  the  smoke  passes  out.  Sometimes  they  build  a  large  wooden 
chimney,  like  a  cupola,  over  this  opening,  but  more  commonly  it  is  only 
covered  with  boards  as  described. 

You  will  notice  in  Sketch  No.  4  a  frame-work  erected  in  the  center  of 
the  cabin.  On  this  rack  of  untrimmed  sticks  they  hang  their  salmon 
and  other  fish  to  snu)ke  and  dry  them  over  the  tire.  Tiivy  then  pack 
tiiem  for  use  in  square  boxes  neatly  made  of  yellow  cedar,  smoked, 
oiled,  and  trimmed  with  bears'  teeth,  in  imitation  of  the  nails  we  use  on 
our  trunks — like  the  old  brass  nails  of  former  yeirs. 

Some  of  these  Indian  houses  are  quite  elaborately  i)ainted  on  the  front, 
as  seen  in  Sketch  No.  3,  the  residence  of  Skillat's  widow. 

These  paintings  have  an  allegorical  meaning,  and  frequently  represent 
facts  in  the  history  of  the  chief  or  the  tribe. 

In  front  of  the  entrance  there  is  usually  a  porch,  built  with  railing,  to 
prevent  the  children  from  falling  off,  and  you  will  notice  the  round  hole 
for  the  entrance.  They  are  covered  inside  with  heavy  wooden  doors, 
securely  fastened  within  by  large  wooden  bars,  as  if  lor  safety  against 
attacks.  Tlie  doors  are  usually  about  four  feet  in  diameter,  and  their 
circular  form  resembles  the  opening  of  the  "tepe"  or  tents  of  the  tribes 
of  the  i)lains. 

In  front  of  most  of  the  cabins  of  the  chiefs,  largo  i)oles,  elaborately 
carved,  witii  figures  imitating  bears,  sea-lions,  crows,  eagles,  human 
faces,  .and  figures,  are  erected.  These  are  supposed  to  rei)resent  facts  in 
the  history  of  the  chiefs,  as  well  as  being  heraldic  symbols  of  the  tribe, 
liy  referring  to  Picture  No.  1,  you  will  see  the  poles  (very  poorly  en- 
graved) standing  in  front  of  the  cabins;  in  another  sketch  not  engraved 
is  an  eidargcd  copy  of  these  poles,  and  on  No.  5  are  some  very  curious 
colossal  frogs,  a  bear,  and  war-chief,  with  his  "  big  medicine-dauce"  hat 
on.  All  of  these  tilings  shAw  a  great  foiulness  for  art,  which,  if  developed, 
A'ould  bear  good  fruits.  It  also  shows  that  these  Indians  have  the  time, 
taste,  and  means  for  other  things  than  immediately  i)roviding  the  mere 
necessities  of  existence. 

In  the  carving  of  their  canoes  they  display  great  skill,  making  them 
entirely  by  the  eye.  They  are  as  accurately  balanced  and  beautifully 
modeled  as  possible.  A  copy  of  a  canoe,  with  a  group  of  Indian  women 
dressed  in  their  highly-colored  blankets  and  calicoes,  you  will  find  in 
Sketch  No.  10,  (not  engraved  in  this  edition.) 


PEACEFUL  CHARACTER  OF  THE  INDIANS  AT.  WRANGEL. 


The  testimony  as  to  the  jieaceful  and  industrious  character  of  the 
Indians  at  Wrangel  is  abundant.  On  this  point  Leon  Smith,  the  i)08t- 
trader,  who  wiis  killed,  says  in  a  letter  to  me  dated  October  30,  1809, 
"  I  have  foutul  them  to  be  quiet  and  well  disposed  toward  the  whites." 
Again,  "Tlie  Stikine  tribe  are  a  very  honest  tribe  and  partial  to  the 
whites."  (See  Appendix  C.)  W.  Wall,  interpreter  at  Wrangel,  says: 
"The  majority  of  these  Indians  are  very  industrious  and  are  always 
anxious  to  get  employment,"  and  he  adds,  "  In  conclusion,  I  have  no 
hesitation  in  stating  (after  nearly  three  years'  experience  in  their  means 
and  ways)  that  these  Indians  if  properly  instructed  and  advantage 
taken  of  the  resources  of  the  country,  might  not  be  comfortable,  but  by 


6  WBANGEL, ,  ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO   BOMDARDMENT. 

thft  salo,  of  fiiFH  and  their  other  produce,  might  become  wealthy,"  (S«e 
Appendix  I).) 

lion.  William  S.  Dodge,  ex-mayorof  Sitka,  says  of  the  Alaska  Indianw, 
as  a  whole:  "  They  are  of  a  very  superior  intelligeiuie,  and  have  rapidly 
iicquired  many  of  the  American  ways  of  living  and  cooking.  Their 
hoUHCH  are  cluHtered  into  villages,  very  thoroughly  and  neatly  built,  and 
far  niorc^  Hubstantial  and  pretentious  than  the  log-houses  usually  con- 
structed by  our  hardy  bjujkwoodsmen." 

In  this  d('H<;ription  Mr.  Dodge  includes  the  Stikines,  Kakes,  Kootze- 
noos,  and  the'Roloshan  tribes  generally. 

Of  the  Hitkas  Mr.  Dodge  says:  "They  supply  Sitka  with  its  game, 
flsh,  and  vegcitables,  such  as  potatoes,  turnips,  beets,  and  radishes,  and 
they  are  sharp  traders.'' 

Mr.  Frank  K.  Louthan,  post  trader  at  Sitka,  says  of  the  Sitkas: 
"Tliey  are  industrious  and  ingenious,  being  able  to  imitate  admirably 
almost  anything  placed  before  them."  He  tells  of  their  "  chopping  and 
delivering  one  thousatul  cords  of  wood  for  the  United  States  (jnartirr- 
mast(^r,  under  many  disadvantages,  as  well,  if  not  better,  than  it  would 
have  b(ten  doiu!  by  the  same  white  labor,  under  similar  cinjumstances." 

Mr.  Louthan  further  says :  "  That  our  Indians  are  Huscei)tible  of  a 
high  standard  of  cultivation  I  have  no  doubt."  "This  can  only  \w  done 
by  the  aid  of  industrial  and  educational  schools.  The  missionary  is 
working  to  good  advantage  at  Vancouver  Island  and  at  Fort  Simpson, 
in  whose  schools  can  be  found  men  and  women  of  high  culture  and  re- 
finement, fit  to  grace  almost  any  position  in  life."*  "  The  Koloslians,  our 
own  Indians  from  Tongas  to  the  Copper  River,  are  (piite  as  intiilligent 
and  easy  of  culture,  needing  only  the  same  liberal  system  of  education 
to,  in  a  very  short  time,  utilize  them  for  every  purpose  of  government 
and  usefulness."  (See  full  report  of  F.  K.  Louthan,  Appendix  E,  and 
report  of  U.  G.  Wdliams,  Appendix  B.) 

LIQUORS  BROUGHT  TO  WRANGEL. 

As  I  have  reported  at  Tongas,  so  it  was  at  Wrangel.  A  quantity  of 
porter  and  light  wines,  ten  barrels  of  ale,  and  five  barrels  of  distilled 
spirits,  (whisky,  brandy,  &c.,)  were  hoisted  up  from  the  hold  of  tin;  New- 
bern,  marked  Leon  Smith,  post  trader  at  Wrangel.  As  I  had  called  the 
attention  of  the  revenue  officers  to  the  violation  of  President  Jolinscm's 
order  in  landing  the  liquors  at  Tongas,  the  officer  commanding  the 
post  at  Wrangel  asked  me  my  opinion  of  the  business.  I  calleil  his 
attention  to  the  wording  of  the  papers  permitting  the  shipment  of  the 
liquors  from  San  Francisco.  It  was  the  same  as  at  Tongas — for  the; 
"use  of  the  o "fleers  at  the  post."  The  captaint  read  this,  reflected  a 
moment,  and  tnen  said  that  he  would  not  permit  it  to  land.  The  beer 
and  porter  was  landed  and  taken  into  Leon  Smith's  store,  and  the 
whisky,  brandy,  rum,  &c.,  was  earned  up  to  Sitka. 

At  Wrangel,  as  at  Tongas,  there  is  no  medical  attendance,  nor  care  or 
supervision  of  any  kind  whatever,  other  than  military,  over  the  Indians. 

DEMORALIZING  EFFECT  OF  THE  NEAR    PROXIMITY  OF  SOLDIERS  AND 

INDIANS. 

I  have  spoken  of  the  ill  effects  of  the  near  proximity  of  soldiers  to  the 
Indian  villages,  and  of  the  demoralizing  effects  upon  both.  It  is  the 
same  in  all  Indian  countries.  It  appears  to  be  worse  here  because  more 
needless.    Nowhere  else  that  I  have  visited  is  the  absolute  uselessness 


of  sold  ion 
by  watcr- 
for  plying 
smart  sai 
among  th( 
Indians,  t 
Unit<Hl  S 
and  re(!on 
five  hundi 
Territory, 

The  sol 
The  free 
other  deb 
whites,  h 
govern  in( 

The  Uii 
E.  J.  Bail 
until  thej 
fluences. 
Htatioriiiij 
and  sink 
sible  to  rt 
Ap[)endij 


*  Under  cliarKc  of  Rev.  W.  Duncan,  who  wrote  the  letter  on  page  10. 
t  Brevet  Captain  Borrgwes,  U.  S.  A.  v 


V.  C. 


jr."     (S<.e 

liidiariK, 
« i-ii|ii(lly 
f.  TlH'i'r 
i)uilt,  iiiid 
lally  con- 

Kootze- 

itH  Ki"n<', 
iHii(5s,  and 

SitkaH: 

Irnirably 

lUMfi  and 

.s  qiiart<;r- 

I  it  would 

iistaniM^H." 

lil>lft  of  a 

y  l)(^  don« 

wioriary  in 

HimpHon, 

ir«  and  re- 

sliaim,  onr 

iiitollJKfcnt 

■  (education 

overnnient 

dix  E,  and 


juantity  of 
)f  dJHtillcd 
f  tin;  New- 
i  calliid  the 

Jolinson'H 
andini^the 
calliMl  hiH 
lent  of  the 
iH — for  the 
■eHeeted  a 

Tlie  beer 
3,  and  the 

lor  care  or 
le  IndiaoM. 

>1EBB  AND 

liers  to  the 
It  iH  the 
ianse  more 
i8ele8MneMH 
'.  C. 


WBANGEL,   ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO   BOMBARDMENT.  7 

of  soldiers  so  apparent  as  in  Alaska.  The  only  eommnnication  being 
by  water — there  are  no  roads  by  land — it  follows  that  vessels  snitable 
for  i>lyinf(  up  the  inland  seas,  manned  by  a  few  revenue  officers  or  good, 
smart  sailors,  will  do  more  toward  eft'ectnally  preventing  lawlessness 
among  tlie  Indians,  and  smuggling  or  illicit  trade  with  the  whites  and 
Indians,  than  five  hundred  soldiers  located  at  post.  Nearly  all  the 
Unit<Hl  States  officers  that  I  have  conversed  with  agree  on  the  above, 
and  recommend  a  reduction  in  the  force  in  this  Territory.  There  are 
five  hundred  here  now,  when  two  hundred  would  be  ample  for  the  whole 
Territory. 

The  soldiers  will  have  whisky,  and  the  Indians  are  equally  fond  of  it. 
Tlie  free  use  of  this  by  both  soldiers  and  Indians,  together  with  the 
other  debaucheries  between  them,  rapidly  demoralizes  both,  though  the 
whites,  having  the  larger  resources,  ami  being  better  cared  for  by  the 
government  in  houses,  clothing,  and  food,  endure  it  the  longer. 

The  United  States  medical  director  of  the  department  of  Alaska,  Dr. 
E.  J.  Haily,  says:  "I  am  satisfied  that  little  or  nothing  can  be  done 
until  tlu^y  (the  Indians  of  Alaska)  are  placed  under  more  favorable  in- 
fluences. A  greater  mistake  could  not  have  been  committed  than 
Htatioriiiig  troops  in  their  midst.  They  mutually  debauch  each  other, 
and  sink  into  that  degree  of  degradation  in  which  it  is  utterly  impos- 
sible to  roa(^h  either  through  moral  or  religious  influences."  (See  report, 
Appendix  G.) 

ABUSE  OF    INDIANS  AT  WBANGEL. 

On  my  return  trip,  while  stopping  at  Wran gel, October  29,  Leon  Smith, 
sissisted  by  two  half  drunken  discharged  soldiers,  assaulted  an  Indian 
who  was  passing  in  front  of  his  store.  Mr.  Smith,  ex-confederate  officer, 
said  that  he  was  under  the  imi)ression  (mistaken,  as  he  afterward  admit- 
ted) that  the  Indian  had  struck  his  little  boy,  and  he  only  shook  the 
Indian.  The  drunken  soldiers  standing  by  then,  of  their  own  accord, 
(unsolicited,  Mr.  Smith  says,  by  him,)  seized  the  Indian,  brutally  beat 
him,  and  stamped  upon  him.  I  had  been  taking  a  census  of  the  village 
that  afternoon,  and  hearing  the  shouts  of  the  party,  met  the  Indian 
with  his  face  badly  cut  and  bleeding  coming  toward  his  home.  I 
immediately  went  to  the  post  and  suggested  to  the  commandant  that  he 
should  have  the  drunken  soldiers  arrested  and  retained  for  trial.  He 
sent  a  lieutenant,  with  two  or  three  men,  "  to  quell  the  disturbance," 
the  Indians  meanwhile  having  become  excited,  and  to  "  use  his  own  • 
discretion  about  arresting  the  men."  Lieutenant  Loucks  returned  soon 
afttir  without  the  drunken  soldiers,  and  gave  as  his  reason  that  "  the 
Indian  struck  Mr.  Smith's  boy,"  which,  as  I  have  said,  was  disproved. 

The  drunken  men  belonged  to  a  party  of  over  one  hundred  discharged 
soldiers  who  had  come  down  on  our  steamer  from  Sitka,  and  were  on 
their  way  to  San  Px-ancisco.  Some  of  them  had  been  drummed  out  of 
the  service  for  robbing  the  Greek  church  at  Sitka,  and  for  other  crimes. 
I  had  informed  the  commandant  of  their  character  the  morning  after 
our  vessel  arrived,  and  suggested  to  him  the  propriety  of  preventing 
any  of  them  from  landing  and  going  to  the  Indian  village.  He  replied 
that  he  had  no  authority  to  prevent  any  one  from  landing.  I  was  sur- 
prised at  this,  as  I  supposed  Alaska  was  an  Indian  territory,  and  that 
the  military  had  supreme  control. 

The  day  after  the  assault  upon  the  Indian,  the  commandant  came  on 
board  the  Newbern  and  asked  very  kindly  my  opinion  about  the  pro- 
priety of  attempting  to  arrest  the  two  drunken  soldiers,  but  as  there 


-I-       '      ^ " 


WRANOEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMDARDMENT. 


:^^ 


No.    3.— TUK   WIDOW  OK  SKILLAT,  THE  FORMER  .CHIEF'S  HOUSE  AT  WRANGEL, 

ALASKA. 


Ko.  4.— INTERIOR  OF  INDIAN  HOUSE  AT  WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 


were  over  one  hundred  soldiers  on  board,  and  the  affair  had  oocnrrcd  at 
near  twilight,  so  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  recognize  the  men,  the 
impracticability  of  doing  this  at  that  late  hour  was  apparent. 

The  news  of  the  bombardment  of  this  village  by  the  commandant  of 
the  post. reached  us  as  we  close  report. 

The  connection  of  some  of  the  events  narrated  above  with  those 
mentioned  in  the  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War  in  his  communication 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  (Ex.  Doc.  No.  C7,)  inclosing  the  report  of 
Lieutenant  Borrows  concerning  the  recent  bombardment  makes  them 
interesting. 


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WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO    UOMBAUDMENT. 


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WRA.NGEL,  ALASKA,  PREVIOUS  TO  BOMBARDMENT. 


The  following  letter  fiora  Rev.  Mr.  Duncan  the  most  successful 
missionary  among  the  Indians  iu  British  Columbia  near  the  coast  of 
Alaska,  speaking  of  the  bombardment,  is  also  important : 

Letter  from  Ecv.  W.  Duncan,  superintendent  of  the  Indian  misaions  in  British  Columbia,  near 

the  boundary  line  of  Alaska. 

* 
AsTOR  House,  New  York,  February  28, 1870. 

My  Dear  Mr.  Colyer  :  As  I  shall  not  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  on  my  way 
homo  to  England,  ponnit  me,  my  dear  sir,  by  note,  to  thank  you  most  sincerely  for  the 
very  kind  letter  you  wrote  and  left  for  me  at  Metlakahtla  last  Novembur.  Your  sym- 
pathy was  very  refreshing,  and  a  fresh  token  of  my  Heavenly  Father's  care  over  me. 

I  am  glad  to  learn  from  your  letter  that  something  is  soon  to  bo  done  for  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  the  Indians  of  Alaska.  What  a  pity  it  is,  I  often  think,  the  missionaries 
did  not  precede  the  soldiers,  at  leas'  to  those  places  where  there  are  only  Indians,  as 
at  Fort  Tongas  and  Fort  Wrangel.  Military  rule  among  Indians,  while  heathen,  is,  I 
feel  sure,  a  fatal  mistake.  It  will  only  breed  the'  troubles  it  wi<,s  intended  to  check. 
(The  blood  of  poor  Captain  Smith,  lately  shot  at  Fort  Wrangel,  lies,  I  am  sorry  to  say, 
at  the  door  of  military  anthority  there,)  while  both  Indian  and  soldier  are  recipro- 
cating their  vices,  and  both  being  plunged  into  utter  ruin. 

The  accounts  I  have  received  from  time  to  time  of  the  conduct  of  the  soldiers  in  the 
Indian  camps  of  the  coast  of  Alaska  are  truly  shocking.  If  the  United  States  govern- 
ment did  but  know  half,  I  am  sure  they  would  shrink  trom  being  identitied  witli  such 
abominations,  and  the  cause  of  so  much  misery.  I  hope  and  pray,  that  in  Ood's  good 
providence  the  soldiers  will  be  moved  away  from  Fort  Toiif^as  and  Fort  Wrangel, 
where  there  are  no  whites  to  protect,  and  missionaries  sent  in  their  places. 

Give  the  missionary  magisterial  power,  and  authority  to  .act  as  a  custom-house  offi- 
cer ;  let  him  choose  a  few  Indian  constables,  and  be  occiisioually  visited  and  supported 
by  a  ship  of  war,  and  all  will  go  on  well  both  for  the  Indians  and  the  country  too. 
The  Indian  will  gradually  advance  under  the  missionary's  kind  rule,  the  customs  laws 
will  be  effleiently  protected,  at  least  within  the  vicinity  of  the  mission,  and  the 
country  (so  far  as  tue  Indians  are  concerned)  become  prepared  for  the  white  settlers. 
When  the  whites  have  made  settlements,  let,  if  need  be,  soldiers  be  sent  to  them. 

Excuse  me,  my  dear  sir,  for  thus  intruding  my  opinion  upon  matters  which  in  one 
sense  do  not  concern  me,  but  I  feel  I  cannot  lot  pass  this  opportunity  for  venting  my 
grief  at  what  I  see  in  the  military  establishment  of  Alaska,  which  will,  I  am  sure, 
unless  chanj'ed  or  removed,  render  utterly  abortive  any  measures  you  may  adopt  for 
teaching  and  civilizing  the  natives. 

How  rejoiced  I  feel  that  there  are  those  iu  this  land  who  are  seeking  the  welfare  of 
the  poor  Indian. 

May  God  direct  and  bless  your  every  eflfort  in  your  benevolent  undertaking. 

If  it  should  please,  and  be  the  will  of  Almighty  God  that  I  shall  nsturu  to  Metla- 
kahtla, I  do  hope  I  may  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  on  my  way  thither. 
Believe  me,  my  dear  sir,  yours,  very  sincerely  and  gratefully, 

W.  DUNCAN, 
Christian  Missionary  Society  House,  Salisbury  Si/uare,  London. 

For  a  statement  of  the  practical  working  of  the  Indian  law  by  which 
the  nearest  of  kin  is  expected  to  avenge  the  death  of  his  relative  killed, 
I  call  your  attention  to  a  portion  of  the  report  of  Frank  K.  Louthau, 
Appendix  F. 

It  was  in  obedi>  ace  to  this  law  that  Leon  Sipith,  the  post- trader  at 
Wrangel,  was  killed  by  the  relative  of  Siawan,  the  Indian  shot  by  order 
of  Lieutenant  Loucks. 

It  will  be  seen  by  Mr.  Louthan's  report  that  this  law  was  weli  under- 
stood by  all  the  old  traders  in  Alaska. 

Respectfully  submitted  by,  very  respectfullv,  your  obedient  servant, 

VINCENT  COLYEU, 
United  States  Special  Indian  Commissioner. 
Hon.  J.  D.  Cox, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior. 


iccessfnl 
' coast  of 


tmbia,  near 


[28,  1870. 

on  my  way 
loly  for  the 
lYour  Hym- 
J  over  me. 
Iio  spiritual 
li.ssionaries 
IliKlians,  as 
[sathen,  is,  I 

to  check, 
irry  to  say, 
lire  recipro- 

liors  in  the 
tos  covem- 
witb  Bucli 
God's  good 
•t  Wrangel, 

i-iiouse  offl- 
.supported 

country  too. 

istoms  laws 

on,  and  the 
lite  settlers. 

tiioin. 

hich  in  one 
venting  my 
,  I  am  sure, 
ly  adopt  for 

e  welfare  of 


ing. 

■n  to  Metla- 

r. 

AN, 

'e,  London, 

by  which 

ive  killed, 

Lou  than, 

;-trader  at 
t  by  order 

ell  under- 

servaut, 

i8sioner. 


WRANGEL,    AlrASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO   BOMBARDMENT. 

Appendix  A. 
Cenfittg  of  the  Indian  village  {Stikine)  at  Wrangel,  Alaaka. 


11 


UoiiHca. 


First. 


I 


Se<M)nd 4 


Third 

Koiirtli 

Fifth 

Sixth  

Seventh  

Eighth 

Ninth 

Tfiiith 

Elovmith 

Twelfth 

Thirteenth . . 
Fourteenth . . 

Fifteenth 

Sixteenth 

S(?ventecnth . 


Houses. 


Eight<>enth 

Nineteenth  

Twentieth 

Twenty-HrHt 

Twenty-second  . . 

Twenty -third 

Twenty-fourth  . . 

Twenty-lifth 

Twenty-sixth  — 
Twenty-seven  th . 
Tweuty-eiKlith . . 
Twenty-ninth  . .. . 

Thirtieth 

Thirty-first 

Thirty-second  . . . 


Total l.W 


o      S 

M    e 

3 
8 
7 
1 
4 
1 
1 
3 
7 
3 
1 
2 
.5 
3 
3 


183  1  77  I     89 


Men 

Women  and  children. 


159 
349 


Total 508 


Appendix  B. 


Report  from  Harry  G.  ff'illiania, 

THE  8TIKINE   INDIANS   AT  WllANCJEL. 

FouT  Wrangki.,  Alaska  Territory,  October  30, 1869. 

DrakSir:  Immediately  after  leavin;^  you  on  boar.',  the  steamer  Newbern,  I  was 
snngly  stored  away  as  a  guest  of  tlie  post  surgeon,  in  hisiiuarters.  H.  M.  Kirlco,  acting 
assistant  8urg(!on  United  States  Army,  gave  me  a  very  intcnwting  account  of  the  nature, 
customs,  means  of  livliliood,  occnpation,  and  also  of  the  diseiisos  and  manner  of  their 
treatment  among  the  Stikine  Indians. 

Of  their  nature,  he  says,  they  are  very  docile  and  friendly,  ingenious,  and  labor  well 
and  faithfully,,  but  by  beiiifj;  brought  into  contact  witi)  unprincipled  white  men  are 
soon  found  to  adopt  and  imitate  tlieir  manners  and  ways. 

In  tlieir  customs  they  still  maintain  the  most  of  those  originally  observed  by  their 
nation.  However,  many  of  them  take  great  pride  in  imitating  civilized  ways  of  dress, 
which  in  their  opinion  renders  them  equally  as  good  as  a  white  man.  Their  ni<;ans  of 
livelihood  are  chierty  by  salmon  tishing,  which  they  catch  in  immense  numbers,  and  pre- 
pare for  winter  use  by  drying  and  smoking,  after  which  they  are  stored  away  care- 
fully. Many  of  them  use  flour,  but  prefer  hard  bread  and  crackers  when  they  are  able 
to  obtain  them.  They  are  very  fond  of  coftee,  sugar,  and  molasses,  and  like  all  other 
Indians  easily  become  fond  of  ardent  spirits,  to  obtain  which  they  will  somt;tinies  sac- 
rifice nearly  everything  in  their  possession.  In  this  manner  they  are  imposed  upon  by 
those  who  know  no  principle  or  law,  who  have  been  known  to  sell  them  essence  of 
peppermint,  8tonghton's  bitters,  and  absinthe  charging  them  four  dollars  a  bottle, 
(holding  one  pint.)  Absinthe  is  a  compound  which,  if  used  as  a  constutit  beverage, 
soon  unseats  the  mind,  produces  insanity,  and  sometimes  death.  Dr.  Kirko  tolls  me 
that  he  can  find  none  among  them  who  are  entirely  free  from  the  iudicatitMis  of  some 
form  of  disease.  A  large  number  of  them  are  more  or  less  inoculated  with  tiie  different 
forms  of  venereal  diseases,  which,  had  they  proper  protection,  could  be  avoi(\ed.  But  I 
regret  to  say  tbtit,  men  cannot  he  blamed  for  following  examples  set  by  iheir  superiors, 
the  consequence  of  which  is  the  liidian  women  become  mere  concubines,  at  the  will  of 
those  whose  duty  it  is  to  try  and  elevate  and  not  degrade  theui.  These  women  are 
never  known  to  se(!k  any  such  degrading  intercotirso,  but  permit  it  merely  for  the  pecu- 
niary gain  it  aft'ords  them.  Justice,  honor,  and  manhood  point  the  '-iger  of  scorn,  and 
cry  shame  to  sncli.  Men  with  virtuous,  noble  wives  and  children,  even  to  stoop  to 
such  acts !    Thauk  a  kind  heavenly  Master,  there  will  bo  a  time  when  such  men  can  be 


^^m 


12 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO   BOMBARDMENT. 


seen  in  tlicir  tnie  character,  and  be  made  to  feci  the  power  of  an  avcnr;ing  hand.  I  ai.i 
fully  conviiKM'd  that  by  kind  and  careful  teaching  this  great  evil  could  bo  remedied 
am'  tlie  Indian  race  again  restored  to  its  former  virtue  and  honor,  and  gradually  be- 
come au  intelligent,  industrious,  and  educated  i)eople. 

THE  STIKINE  RIVER. 

After  remaining  at  A\  rangel  one  week  I  procured  an  Indian  gnide,  pnrchaaed  a  canoe 
and  HiithcitMit  provisons  to  last  tliree  niontlis,  and  Monday,  at  lialf  jiast  one  j).  m.,  Sep- 
tember 1:J,  started  on  a  tour  of  inspection  np  the  Stikine  River,  tlie  niontli  of  which 
is  about  ten  miles  n(u-tli  from  Wrangel  Island.  Wo  reached  main  land  about  four 
p.  m.,  and  after  luncheon  again  resumed  our  journey,  overtaking  a  number  of  Indians 
during  the  afternoon. 

These  Indians  were  from  Wrangel,  and  on  their  way  to  the  interior,  where  they  go 
every  fall  to  trade  for  the  furs  of  more  distant  tribes.  A  systematic  form  of  exchange 
is  carried  on  from  one  tribe  to  another  imtil  it  reaches  the  coast  tribes,  thus  bringing 
many  valuable  furs  many  hundred  miles  from  the  interior  of  a  vast  and  unexplored 
country. 

As  we  advanced,  day  after  day,  the  general  ai>pearance  of  the  country  gradually 
assumed  a  l)etter  apinnirance.  The  scenery  along  the  river  is  far  ln'yond  my  power  of 
description.  Iinmeuse  mountains,  whose  snow-crowned  heads  pierce  the  dome  of  heaven 
iu  solemn  and  domestic  grandeur,  rise  in  every  direction. 

COAL,   IROX,  AND  COPPER. 

In  many  ])lacpa  on  these  mountains  could  bo  seen  liuge  masses  of  coal,  looking  as  though 
a  little  jiush  would  set  them  tumbling  down  their  sides.  Iron  and  copper  ab.)und  in  numy 
jdaces,  ami  gold  can  be  found  in  every  direction,  very  thinly  scattered.  As  yet  no  dis-^ 
coveri(^s  have  been  made  that  would  warrant  a  sjieedy  acquirement  of  wealth  by  mining, 
but  the  indications  an?  very  good  tlmt  at  no  distant  day  very  rich  mines  will  bo  found. 
A  stnnig  party  of  prosjiecters  left  Victoria  in  May  last,  for  the  purixise  of  exploring  the 
entire  interior  westward,  and  are  daily  expected  to  uuike  tln-ir  appi'ariince  somewhere 
along  the  coast.  M;iiiy  are  ready  and  waiting  to  embrace  any  n<'w  discoveries  they  may 
have  made  in  their  long  Journey.  As  we  advanced  to  the  interior  w(!  found  a  greater 
change  in  the  condition  of  the  Indians.  They  being  removed  from  the  coast,  had  no  idea 
of  wrong  or  evil  actions.  TUey  are  far  more  hoiuisttlian  the  same  number  of  white  men 
would  be  under  the  same  circumstances.  You  can  form  an  idi'a  of  this  from  the  fol- 
lowing, which  I  It  arne.l  froui  an  eye-witness:  In  ISG'i  a  large  immigration  of  miners  to 
thiij  coast  was  caused  l)y  the  discoveries  of  gold  about  two  hundred  miles  uj)  the  Stikine 
River,  at  a  bar  named  after  the  discoverer,  (Mr.  Chockett,  nicknamed  Hack,;  henco 
the  name  of  "  Buck's  Bar,"  which  was  worked  but  one  or  two  years,  (owing  to  the  diffi- 
culty of  glutting  provisions,)  and  then  nearly  all  of  them  riituniing,  many  left  their 
entire  kits  of  tools  and  working  utensils  and  goods  of  every  variety  ;  sonui  hung  them 
up  on  t''ees,  ,)thers  stowed  them  away  in  caves  and  niches  in  th(!  rocks,  and  abandoned 
them.  ■  he  Indians  are  continually  passiu  r  them,  and  have  been  known  to  replace 
them  when  Jieir  fastenings  would  give  way  and  let  them  fall  to  the  gro\ind,  thereby 
showing  not  even  the  existence  of  a  wrong  thought  in  the  miuds  of  these  red  men. 
The  only  thing  they  have  ever  been  known  to  appropriate  was  a  few  potatoes  and 
about  tiv<!  ])ounds  of  Hour  lielonging  to  one  of  the  miners  tluire,  and  this  they  were 
almost  forced  to  take  from  inability  to  procure  sullicieiit  food  to  sustain  life.  This  in- 
stance can  be  nmltiplied  by  numy  nu)re  of  the  same  nature,  were  it  necessary.  Fifty 
milt!8  up  th(!  river  is  an  abandoned  house,  once  used  by  tiio  Hudson's  Bay  Company  for 
trading  with  the  Indians. 


THE  GL/ 


n  OF  THE  STIKINE. 


Opposite  this  place  is  an  immeuso  glacier,  about  four  miles  long  and  an  unknown 
width,  extending  wt^stward  between  two  large  mountains,  until  it  is  no  longer  discernil>lo. 
It  varies  in  dejtth  from  one  to  five  or  six  hundred  feet,  connm^ncing  near  the  water  and 
extending  along  its  course.  The  top  is  furrowed  and  cut  by  the  rain  into  every  variety 
of  8hap(?,  only  muMling  a  snuvll  addition  to  form  correct  inu(g<!sof  houses,  towers,  giauts, 
caverns,  and  many  otluu'  forms.  Viewed  from  the  east  sitle  of  the  river,  when  the  sun 
is  shining  full  upon  it,  it  iiresents  a  most  beautiful  appearance,  its  innumerable  ])oiuts 
jrlistening  like  l>nrnished  silver,  and  its  caverns  becoming  miu'e  dark  by  comparison. 
Toward  sunset  the  etfect  of  the  day's  sun  causes  it  tocrack,  which  makesa  deep  rumbling 
noise  that  can  be  heard  for  ten  or  tifteen  and  son:etinu;s  twenty  miles.  Immediately 
opposite  its  center,  across  the  river,  is  a  boiling  spring,  bublding  up  iu  t^iglit  or  ten 
places,  wlio.se  water  is  so  hot  that  it  will  crisp  a  person's  boots  iu  a  very  short  time,  us 
many  incant  ions  persons  can  testify.  It  seems  as  if  nature  must  have  lieeu  on  a  frolic 
during  her  stay  hens  and  becoming  chilled  from  the  glacier,  came  across  the  river  and 
found  this  warm  stream  in  which  to  sport. 


[ind.    I  ai.i 

I'omedif'd 

liduaUy  be- 


Hod  a  canoo 
Jl).  m.,  Sop- 
Jli  of  which 
laboiit  four 
I  of  ludiaus 

Jc^ro  they  go 
If  exchaiif^o 
Ills  briuging 
limexplored 

ly  gradually 
piy  power  of 
ioof  heaveu 


gas  though 

1111(1  in  many 

s  yet  no  dis-v 

ly  mining, 

ill  bo  found. 

x])loring  the 

!  Momewhero 

U'n  they  may 

11(1  a  greater 

,  had  no  idea 

>f  white  men 

from  the  fol- 

of  miners  to 

p  the  Sti  kino 

Buck,;  hence 

ti  to  the  diffi- 

iiy  left  their 

e  hung  them 

(1  abandoned 

II  to  replace 

mid,  thereby 

'm  red  men. 

lotatoes  and 

is  they  were 

ife.    Thin  in- 

ssai-y.     Fifty 

Dompanj'  for 


III  unknown 
rdiscernible. 
i(!  water  and 
vtsry  variety 
wers,  giants, 
lien  tile  Hun 
arable  points 
comparison, 
enruinbling 
mmediately 
I'iglit  or  ton 
lort  time,  as 
1  on  a  frolic 
lio  river  and 


WRANGEL,   ALASKA,   PREVIOUS   TO   BOMBARDMENT. 


13 


Along  the  river  are  four  other  smaller  glaciers,  but,  compared  with  this  one,  they  be- 
come mere  snow-balls.  Sevenly-five  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river  is  loesited  the 
trading  post  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  in  charge  of  their  agent,  Mr.  Chockett, 
known  throughout  the  country  as  "  Buck  ;"  he  is  esteemed  very  highly  by  the  Indians, 
from  the  fact  that  his  dealings  have  been  uniform,  and  his  i)roiiii.s('H  always  faithfully 
redeemed,  thus  giiiiiing  a  tirni  place  in  their  estimation.  At  th(!  tinm  of  my  visit  he 
showed  me  over  eight  hundred  marten,  one  thousand  biniver,  and  a  large  number  of 
many  other  kind  of  furs  ;  this  being  abont  the  middle  of  the  trading  season  with  him. 
He  has  been  two  hundred  and  ^venty-five  miles  from  there  up  the  river  into  the  inte- 
rior prospecting  for  gold.  Sixty  miles  from  there  you  reach  an  iiiiiiieiise  canon,  ninety 
miles  long,  extending  through  the  Coast  or  Chigmet  Mountains.  The  current  in  this 
place  runs  so  rii])idly  that  you  can  form  no  idea  of  its  speed.  It  reminds  you  of  a  huge 
gun,  as  you  se(!  fragments  of  trees  and  logs  fly  along  In  its  angry  foaming  wat(!rs.  In 
some  places  the  rocky  sides  gradually  incline  inward,  until  at  a  distance  of  two  or  three 
hundred  feet  above  tlie  water  they  come  so  close  that  a  good  Jump  will  taki;  you  across 
the  yawning  chasm  billow.  In  the  spring,  when  the  ice  breaks  u])  In  the  rlvi!r,  the 
water  rises  from  forty  to  sixty  feet  in  this  canon,  and  you  may  imagine  its  appearance 
then. 

After  crossing  the  mountains,  yon  reach  a  beautiful  prairie,  well  watered  and  plenty 
of  fine  timlter.  Here  are  found  deer,  bear,  antelope,  mountain  sheep,  beavca',  and  nearly 
every  variety  of  game,  excepting  the  buffalo.  The  gold  continues  :iliout  the  same,  and 
is  found  to  a  small  (extent  in  river  bars.  No  quartz  existing  pretluUes  the  Idea  of  any 
large  deposits  in  this  vicinity. 

The  ehang(?  in  tlm  climate  is  more  striking  than  that  of  the  country.  It  is  clear, 
bright,  and  invigdiating,  with  but  very  little  rain.  The  atmosiihere  is  so  purethat  you 
can  see  much  further  and  more  distinctly  than  in  any  other  clliiiat)!.  The  nights  are 
almost  as  bright  as  the  day  ;  so  brlgiit  that  you  can  easily  read  coarse  ])riiit.  The  In- 
dians in  this  vicinity  have  almost  an  Eden  to  live  in  ;  game  and  llsh  In  endless  num- 
ber seem  to  be  only  waiting  their  will.  These  trilies  make  annual  journ(;ys  overland 
southward,  and  meet  those  e(uning  from  the  coast,  thus  finding  a  ready  market  for  their 
furs,  for  which  they  obtain  ammunition,  guns,  axes,  buttons,  clotli,  and  tobacco  ;  also 
many  other  snijill  notions.  But  very  little  liquor  ever  reaches  them,  and  thus  they  es- 
cape the  great  source  of  degradation  and  corruption  which  soon  sweeps  away  natums, ' 
power,  and  lin])iiliiess.  I  do  not  wish  my  readers  to  think  that  I  am  a  rigid  tein))eranco 
man,  for  I  am  not.  I  regard  licjuor  the  same  as  any  otln^r  article  of  drink  or  food;  that 
Is,  if  it  Is  ])roi)eily  used,  it  will  not  injure  any  one;  but  abnsejl,  It  becomes  a  scourge 
and  lashes  hardest  those  who  embrace  it  most,  (h^grading  them  even  below  the  bruto 
creation.  Its  ellcct  on  the  Indian  is  much  diflerent  and  more  dangerous  than  on  the 
white  man.  AVhcii  an  [iidlaii  Ix^coines  intoxicated,  he  becomes  wild,  reckless,  and 
cruel,  not  even  hesitating  to  kill  any  one  who  may  meet  his  dlsi)leasure.  They 
■will  continue  drinking  as  long  as  they  can  procure  liquor,  thus  showing  how  rapid 
would  be  their  course  toward  a  fearful  end. 

At  the  time  of  my  leaving  Philadeljdiia,  my  opinion  was  like  the  masses  who  had 
never  seen  or  insjie(  ted  the  Indian  in  his  own  nativepower  and  country  ;  «.  «.,  "  that  ho 
was  incapable  of  ever  lieing  civilized  or  becoming  of  any  iinjiortanct;  wliatever."  Hinco 
my  Journey  and  insiiectlon  (>f  the  dift'erent  tribes  whom  I  ni(»t,  and  observing  the  change 
produced  in  them  by  association  alone,  every  item  of  doubt  regarding  it  Is  turned  te  a 
certainty,  that  they  can,  under  honest,  faithful  instruction,  be  advanced  farbeyou''  our 
imagination. 

After  running  u])  the  Stikine,  I  then  entered  one  of  its  triimtaries,  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles  up,  called  the  Clear  Water  Kiver.  It  was  named  by  a  party  of 
miners,  from  the  fact  of  its  water  being  much  more  clear  than  the  l!^tiklll(^  The  Clear 
Water  runs  southeast.  It  is  a  very  rapid  stream  indeed,  and  in  many  places  very  shal- 
low. It  can  be  navigated  with  ditliculty  about  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  in  canoes,  where 
rapids  occur  s(>  freiiuently  that  no  one  cares  to  risk  life  and  property  by  braving  them. 
Here  the  climate  Is  very  fine  and  healthy,  inhabited  by  tins  "  .Stick  "  or  Tree  Indians. 
These  Indians  part.'ike  of  the  same  descriptions  and  traits  as  thost;  along  tint  Stikino. 
We  left  our  canoe  iiioonMl  in  a  small  side  stream  in  full  view  of  a  trail  in  constant  use 
by  this  tribe,  and  diirlug  a  week  which  I  spent  in  traveling  from  there  In  evttry  direc- 
tion, not  a  single  article  was  disturbed  by  them.  I  fre(iuently  met  tliem,  and  would 
a*k  them  in  their  own  language  ("Mika  manick,  mika  (^anin  f")  "Did  you  see  my 
canoe?"  They  W(uild  say  ("  Moitka")  "Yes;"  and  on  returning  I  could  see  their  trail 
pass  it,  but  no  iiidicati(m  of  their  approaching.  I  xirospeeted  in  many  places  for  gold, 
and  found  but  very  little  difference  between  the  deposits  here  and  els(!where,  with  one 
exception.  About  ten  miles  from  camp,  and  five  miles  up  a  large  creek  (coining  in 
from  the  northeast)  called  Boulder  Creek,  deriving  its  name  from  the  amount  of  largo 
boulders  found  along  its  course,  is  a  fall  of  about  five  or  six  feet,  at  the  foot  of  which 
are  some  smalt  dejiosits  of  coarse  g(dd  buried  amorg  huge  boulders  of  many  tons' 
weight.    It  is  not  in  sutiicieut  (quantities  tu  warrant  au  iuvustmout  iu  miuiug  toola 


TSSS^ 


14 


WRANGEL,   ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO   BOMBARDMENT. 


&c.,  necessary  to  oyercome  those  obstacles  and  remunerate  any  one  for  time  and 
trouble. 

Becoming  fully  convinced  that  there  was  nothing  in  this  section  sufficient  to  recom- 
pense me  for  the  sacrifice  of  home  and  its  surroundings,  I  determined  on  returning  to 
them  as  soon  as  ]>ossible.  Accordingly,  October  21,  all  tilings  being  in  readiness,  at 
day-brcuk  1  bid  farewell  to  our  old  camp  and  its  pleasant  surroundings,  headed  the 
canoe  down  stream,  and  began  a  journey  of  nearly  five  thousnnd  miles  homeward 
bound.  In  the  first  day's  travel  we  run  about  eighty  miles,  encountering  many  dan- 
gerous places,  but  coining  through  them  all  safely.  Many  times,  in  spite  of  our  united 
efforts,  tlio  curreii'  would  sweep  us  against  its  rocky  tiouiuhiry,  and  ahnost  smash  our 
canoe.  Again  in  trying  to  avoid  huge  trees  (left  in  the  river  at  liigh  water)  we  would 
be  forced  to  head  our  boat  directly  for  them,  and  with  a  silent  prayer  wait  tlio  result. 
The  canoe  being  gradually  rounded  from  its  bottom  u^)  to  a  long  shar))  bow,  and  driven 
ten  or  twelve  miles  an  hour  by  the  strong  current,  would  strike  the  tn^e  and  seem  to 
leap  out  of  the  water  over  it,  as  if  it  was  running  from  some  fearful  dangi'r. 

The  next  day's  run  wo  reached  the  Great  Glacier,  and  camjied  in  the  old  house,  re- 
maining there  one  day  to  overhaul  our  goods  and  feast  our  eyes  on  the  •beautiful 
scenery.  After  tramjiing  over  a  large  mountain  and  shooting  some  grouse  and  squirrels 
I  returned  to  camp,  and  next  monnng  determined  to  reach  Wrangcl  iigain.  It  was  a 
long  and  hard  pull  of  sixty  miles,  the  river  having  become  much  wider  and  the  current 
ran  from  four  to  six  miles  an  hour.  We  reached  there  about  9  p.  ni.  tired  and  hungry, 
and  were  welcomed  back  and  well  entertained.  Our  friends  were  about  sending  a 
canoe  up  after  us,  fearing  that  wo  would  not  survive  the  dangers  of  the  return  trip. 
We  were  disappointed  at  not  finding  any  letters  from  lionie  tliere  for  us.  Thursday 
night  wo  were  awakened  by  tho  signal  gnu  of  the  Newbcrn,  and  our  hearts  gave  a 
great  bound  of  joy  at  tho  prospect  ot  a  speedy  return  to  tlie  dear  ones  far  away.  If  in 
this  simple,  unpretending  letter  you  find  anything  instructive  or  inten-sting  I  shall  bo 
amply  repaid  for  this  attempt  at  a  descrii»tion  which,  in  good  luiiuls,  would  fill  a  large 
volume,  every  item  being  of  interest.  As  it  is  I  nuist  endeavcu'  to  doul)le  tho  "one 
talent"  given,  that  it  may  be  well  with  me.  For  the  kind  Cbristian  advice  given  me 
by  you  on  our  way  up  from  San  Francisco  I  thank  you  most  earncHtly,  for  through  it 
I  have  been  greatly  benefited.  Although  I  nuiy  never  repay  you,  your  reward  awaits 
you  in  heaven.  May  God's  blessing  over  rest  ou  you  and  your  eftbrts  is  the  wish  of 
Your  devoted  friend, 

HARRY  G.  WILLIAMS, 

rhUaddphia,  Pa, 

Vincent  Coi-yeu,    ' 

Special  Uniled  States  Indian  Comminsioner. 


Appeni>ix  C. 
Letter  from  Leon  Smith. 

Wkangkl  Isi,ant>,  a.  T.,  October  30,  1869. 

Dkab  Sin  :  In  answer  to  your  questions  of  yesterday,  i)ermit  me  to  say  tho  number 
of  Indians  at  this  point  is  estimated  to  l)e  about  GOO. 

Since  my  arrival  here,  the  1st  of  March,  18C'J,  i  hare  found  them  to  he  quiet,  and  seem 
well  disponed  toward  the  whites. 

They  live  on  fish  (smoked  salmon)  and  game,  and  they  provide  themselves  with 
clothing  from  the  furs  thc^y  gather,  either  by  trade  or  trai)ping. 

Twice  a  year  nu)st  of  the  Indians  make  a  trip  up  tlie  Stikinc  River  to  Talyan,  at 
which  place  tho  Stick  tribe  reside,  and  trade  witli  tlieui  for  interior  marten,  mink, 
beaver,  bear,  wolverine, lynx,  land  otter,  and  some  otlier  skins.  Thi^y  take  up  salmon, 
fish  oil,  bhmkets,  domestics,  red  cloth,  beads,  molasses,  flour,  and  in  fact  every  other 
article  suitable  for  Indian  trade.  They  give  about  ten  yards  of  jirint  for  one  prime 
marten  ;  three  and  a  half  pounds  of  salmon,  three  gallons  of  molasses,  for  the  same,  and 
for  other  skins  in  ]>roportion. 

The  Stick  tribe  a  very  is  honest  tribe,  and  partial  to  the  irhiles.  I  will  now  start  from 
this  point  and  go  with  you  to  Talyan,  on  tho  North  Fork.  We  leave  hero  and  go 
about  seven  miles  to  tho  mouth  of  the  Stikine  with,  say,  five  Indians  in  my  canoe. 
The  C"  '.■  nt  is  rapid  at  all  seasons.  Wo  reach  tho  glacier,  thirty-live  miles  from  the 
iiioutL  in  two  days;  from  there  wf^  proceed  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  post,  two 
miles  above  the  boundary  lino  between  Hudson's  Bay  Company  and  Alaska,  a  distance 
of  thirty  miles,  in  two  days — four  days  from  tho  mouth.  From  Ikto  wo  find  tho  cur- 
rent very  rapid,  and  we  tow  our  canoe  along  tho  two  banks ;  wo  scud  three  of  onr  men 
on  shore  to  tow,  and  keep  ono  in  the  bow  and  stern.  We  tug  along  about  ten  miles  a 
day  until  we  roach   Shakesville,  nuuu;d  after  tho  chief  ot   tho  Stikiuo  tribe,  with 


)r  time  and 

snt  to  recom- 
rotuming  to 
ruadiiicBB,  at 
,  beaded  the 

Lomcward 
y  many  dan- 
of  our  united 
st  HuinHh  our 
er)  we  would 
lit  the  result. 

and  driven 
and  seem  to 

T. 

Id  house,  Te- 
lle •beautiful 
and  squirrels 
n.    It  was  a 
(I  the  current 
and  hungry, 
lit  sending  a 
!  return  trip. 
18.    Thursday 
hearts  gave  a 
away.    If  in 
ting  I  shall  be 
lid  fill  a  large 
bio  the  "  one 
vice  given  me 
for  through  it 
eward  awaits 
)ho  wish  of 

LIAMS, 
tdelphia,  Pa. 


her  30,  1869. 
ly  the  number 

quiet,  and  seem 

jnisolves  with 

to  Talyan,  at 
narten,  mink, 
ko  up  salmon, 
t  every  other 
for  one  iiriiuo 

the  same,  and 

)w  start  from 
;  hero  and  go 
in  my  canoe, 
miles  from  the 
iiy's  post,  two 
ika,  a  distance 
)  find  the  cnr- 
•ee  of  onr  men 
(it  ten  miles  a 
le  tribe,  with 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO    BOMBARDMENT 


15 


whom  yon  are  acquainted.  We  reached  Shakesville  in  about  five  days,  about  fifty  miles 
from  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  being  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles  from  the 
mouth.  From  here  we  tug  along  twelve  miles  to  Buck's  Bar,  at  which  point,  or  in  its 
vicinity,  some  eleven  miners  are  at  work  on  surface  digging.  They  average  about  three 
dollars  a  day,  and  generally  come  to  the  mouth  to  winter.  The  men  do  some  trading 
in  furs.  They  here  find  silver,  copper,  coal,  and  iron,  but,  with  the  exception  of  coal, 
not  in  large  quantities.  The  coal  near  the  North  Fork  is  of  good  quality,  the  vein  being 
some  thirty  feet.  We  now  leave  Buck's  Bar,  bound  to  Talyan,  a  distance  of  twenty 
miles.  We  work  hard  for  three  days,  and  at  last  make  fast  to  the  banks  at  Talyan. 
We  are  received  kindly  by  the  chief,  Nornuck,  and  by  all  the  tribe.  The  tribe  remain 
away  from  home,  and  at  their  hunting  grounds,  about  six  months  out  of  the  year. 
They  do  their  tnuling  with  the  Stikincs ;  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  sends  goods  up, 
and  in  fact  do  most  all  the  trading.  »»»##» 

I  spoke  to  you  of  Mr.  Charles  Brown's  farm  and  waterfall.  He  tells  mo  that  he  has 
raised  about  fifteen  tons  of  potatoes,  two  tons  of  cabbage,  four  tons  of  turnips,  and  a 
large  quantity  of  beets,  lettuce,  peas,  carrots,  &c.  He  has  aturnip  weighing  six  pounds. 
Potatoes  average  well ;  some  came  aboard  yesterday. 

The  lake  is  about  one  mile  wide,  and  two  and  one-half  long ;  the  fall  is  abont  forty 
feet,  with  water  enough  to  run  forty  saw-mills.  Mr.  Brown  has  been  living  at  that 
point  about  two  years ;  it  is  about  ten  miles  from  here. 

Out  of  six  i>ouiids  of  seed  Mr.  Brown  tells  me  he  raised  four  hundred  and  fifteen 
pounds  of  potatoes. 

Mr.  Hdgaii,  a  miner  at  Buck's  Bar  for  two  years,  tells  me  that  the  altitude  of  the 
country  will  not  permit  them  to  raise  vegetables;  the  country  is  broken,  mountainous, 
and  swampy. 

Of  the  other  tribes  of  the  Territory  I  know  nothing. 

Hoping  you  will  excuse  this  hurriedly  penned  memorandum,  I  am,  sir,  very  respect- 
fully, your  obedient  servant, 

LEON  SMITH. 

Hon.  Vincent  Colykr, 

i>j>ecial  Indian  Commiasioner. 


Appkndix  D. 

Letter  from  W.  Wall. 

FouT  Wrangel,  a.  T.,  November  8, 1869. 

Dear  Sir:  The  Stikine  Indians  live  at  present  on  a  small  bay  near  the  northern  ex- 
tremity of  Wrangel  Island,  and  within  about  seven  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Stikine.  They  number  altogether  about  three  hundred,  and  are  divided  into  nine 
tribes,  each  tribe  having  a  chief,  and  all  subject  to  one  chief 

The  present  chief  is  Shakes ;  lie  does  not  possess  by  any  means  the  authority  and  in- 
fluence which  his  predecessor  did ;  the  principal  reason  is  he  is  very  poor,  and  another 
is  he  reports  to  the  coinmanding  officer  all  the  misdeeds  of  the  village.  Ho  is  well  dis- 
posed, and  his  only  fault  is  his  fondness  for  whisky,  which  is  the  cause  of  his  poverty. 

The  majority  of  thme  Indians  are  very  indiistriou»,  and  are  always  anxious  to  get 
employment,  but,  like  all  the  Indians  on  the  coast,  are  passionately  fond  of  whisky. 
Such  is  their  desire  for  it  that  they  will  dispose  of  their  most  valuable  furs  at  a  most 
extraordinary  sacrifice  to  obtain  it.  However,  since  the  country  came  into  the  posses- 
sion of  the  United  States  they  have  not  as  many  opportunities  aa  formerly  of  gratifying 
their  paasion. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact,  that  the  sale  of  whisky  to  Indians  on  this  cooat,  (aud  to  the 
interior  Indians  through  these  on  the  coast,)  has  reduced  their  numbers,  caused  petty 
feuds,  idleness,  theft,  and  predisposes  them  to  disease  and  mortality,  reducing  them  to 
the  level  of  the  lowest  brute.  They  are  artful  and  cunning,  and  to  gain  a  point  will  tell 
lies  in  a  most  bare-facjid  manner ;  at  the  same  time  they  look  upon  a  respectable  white 
man  as  incapable  of  telling  an  untruth  ;  and  if  a  white  man  once  deceives  them  by 
telling  an  untruth,  or  otherwise,  they  look  upon  him  as  below  caste,  and  will  avoid  aa 
much  a«  possible  all  future  dealings  with  him. 

It  is  also  a  well-known  fact  that  immorality  among  the  Indian  tribes  is  not  so  gen- 
eral oa  when  they  associate  with  the  white  population.  Both  male  and  female  seem  to 
sufier  alike  by  the  association,  and  the  natural  consequence  is  quite  evident — disease 
Fr<'  a  remarkable  decrease  in  population. 

Vhe  principal  sustenance  of  these  Indians  is  fish,  berries,  fish  oil,  seal  oil,  venison, 
and  mountain  sheep.  Potatoes  and  turnips  they  are  very  fond  of,  and  buy  them  in 
considerable  quantities  from  the  Hydahs,  who  live  further  up,  and  seem  to  uuderstaad 
their  cultivation. 


16 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO    BOMBARDMENT. 


The  Hoil  ftnd  dininte  here  are  well  snited  for  the  growth  of  potatoes,  turnips,  cab- 
bage, carrots,  jmrsniiis,  beets,  &c.;  bnt  both  from  the  want  of  knowledge  and  of  iniph;- 
nients,  tlie  Indians  never  nake  an  earnest  attempt ;  they  simply  enltivate  a  few  potiir 
toes  in  a  most  inditt'crent  manner. 

The  fnr-beari)ig  animals  on  the  coast  are  numerous,  and  good  of  their  kind,  viz: 
bears,  mink,  and  hair  seiil ;  and  it  is  strange  how  these  Indians  neglect,  in  a  great 
measure,  this  very  inijidrtant  source  of  wealth.  I  can  account  for  it  in  this  way:  their 
appliances  for  ju'ocnring  the  means  of  subsistence  are  so  indifferent,  and  their  total 
neglect  of  raising  any  vegetables  leaves  them  in  that  condition  that  they  really  have 
neither  the  time  nor  the  independence  to  go  out  for  a  two  or  three  months'  trapping 
expedition.  However,  there  are  some  exceptions  which  go  to  prove  the  statement 
which  I  make.  I  know  one  Indian  who  last  winter  killed  twelve  large  and  eight  small 
bears,  about  thirty  minks,  and  a  number  of  hair  seals;  ho  had  besides  a  small  patch  of 
potatoes;  this  Indian  had  only  his  wife  to  assist  him.  In  conclusion,  I  have  no  hesitation 
in  stating,  {after  ncuvhi  three  i/mrs'  experience  in  their  means  and  ways,)  that  these  Indians,  {f 
properlj/  instructed,  and  adranlage  taken  of  the  resources  of  the  country,  they  might  not  only 
become  comfortable,  but  by  the  saU  of  furs  and  their  other  produce  become  comparatively 
wealthy. 

I  have  mueli  pleasure  in  offering  you  these  hurried  remarks,  hoping  you  might  find 
them  useful  in  assisting  yon  in  the  good  work  you  have  uadertakeu. 
I  am,  sir,  yours,  most  respectfully, 

W.  WALL. 

Hon.  ViNCKNT  COI-YER, 

United  States  Upecial  Indian  Commissioner. 


*  Appendix  E. 

Report  from  F.  K.  Louthan  on  the  Indian  tribes  of  Alaska. 

Alaska,  October  28,  1869. 

Dear  Siu  :  A  residence  of  nearly  two  years  at  Sitka,  intimately  associated  with  the 
trade  of  the  country,  and  in  (hilly  communication  with  the  Indians,  has  afforded  me 
some  iulvantages  for  observing  the  habits  and  wants,  manners  and  customs,  of  those 
people. 

I  need  only  refer  to  the  Sitkas,  whoso  history  and  character  afford  an  example 
that  pertains,  in  a  peculiar  degree,  to  all  of  the  tribes  on  our  coast,  from  Fort  Tongas, 
near  our  southern  boundary  line,  to  Copper  River,  away  to  the  northward  and  west- 
ward, about  six  hundred  miles. 

The  village  of  the  Sitkas  consists  of  fifty-six  houses,  well  built  and  comfortable,  ad- 
joining the  town  of  Sitka,  or  New  Archangel,  being  separated  only  by  the  palisade,  a 
rude  defensive  line  of  njjright  logs,  i)laced  by  the  old  Russian  American  Company. 
The  village  contains  a  ])opulation  of  about  twelve  hundred  souls  all  told.  They  have 
been,  and  are  now,  governed  by  one  great  chief,  aided  by  sub-chiefs,  all  of  whom  are 
elected  by  the  tribe.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  give  the  number  of  the  latter,  their 
position  being  neither  arbitrary  nor  perpetual,  as  is  that  of  the  great  chief  or  "  tye." 
They  live  by  iishing  and  hunting,  each  in  their  proper  season,  the  men  devoting  a 
large  portion  of  their  time  trading  with  tlit  interior  Indians  for  furs,  giving  in  ex- 
change their  dried  salmon  and  halibut,  cotton  goods,  printed  and  plain,  blankets,  guns, 
powder,  balls,  «&e. 

They  arc  industrious  and  ingenious,  being  able  to  imitate  admirably  almost  anything  placed 
before  them.  Of  their  industry,  I  need  only  to  refer  to  the  fact  that  for  the  quartermaster  and 
myself,  in  a  few  days'  notice,  they  supplied,  under  great  disadvantages,  both  of  weather  and  me^ns, 
one  thousand  cords  of  wood,  liussian  measure,  of  216  cubic  feet  each.  This  large  amount  of 
tcood  was  cut  from  one  to  four  miles  away  from  our  town,  and  delivered  and  corded  by  them  as 
well,  if  not  better,  than  would  luive  been  done  by  the  same  white  labor  under  similar  disadvan- 
tages. 

Our  Indians  are  shrewd  traders,  readily  understanding  prices  and  values,  easily  un- 
derstanding both  our  coins  of  different  denominations,  and  our  "greenbacks."  They 
are  tractable  and  kind  when  kindly  treated,  but  vindictive  and  exacting  full  compen- 
sation for  wrongs  inflicted,  come  from  what  quarter  they  may.  All  ditliculties,  even 
that  of  killing  one  of  their  number,  is  measured  by  an  estimated  value,  "so  many 
blankets,"  or  the  equivalent  in  money,  or  what  they  may  elect.  The  failure  to 
promptly  pay  for  a  real  or  supposed  injury  is  at  once  the  signal  for  retaliation.  I  can 
but  look  with  great  favor  u[)on  the  system  on  tho  part  of  the  government,  of  adapting 
itself  to  the  one,  idea,  immediate  settlement  with  their  people  tor  all  wrongs  of  magni- 
tude, (whether  on  the  part  of  the  military  or  the  individual,)  entirely  upou  eatinxated 


•  ..."(,. 


I 


lumips,  cab- 
11(1  of  iin})li:- 
a  few  potiir 

ir  kind,  viz : 
a  great 
8  way :  their 
their  total 

really  have 
lis'  trapping 
10  statement 
(1  eight  small 
nail  patch  of 

no  hesitation 
ene  Indians,  \f 
night  not  only 
comimratively 

u  might  find 


W.  WALL. 


her  28,  1869. 
ated  with  the 
vs  atfordod  me 
toius,  of  those 

d  an  example 
1  Fort  Toug.18, 
■ard  and  west- 

mfortablo,  ad- 
he  palii^ade,  a 
can  CoHipany. 
il.  They  have 
of  whom  are 
le  latter,  thoir 
3hief  or  "  tye." 
en  devoting  a 
,  giving  in  ex- 
tlaukets,  guns, 

anything  placed 
irtermaster  and 
ilher  and  means, 
irge  amount  of 
rded  by  them  as 
nilar  disadvan- 

no8,  easily  un- 
backs."  They 
\r  full  compen- 
^iculties,  even 
ue,  "so  many 
'he  failure  to 
iiation.  I  can 
it,  of  adapting 
ngs  of  magni- 
upou  estimated 


etmJSS 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO   BOMBARDMENT. 


17 


value.    This  is  the  time-honored  custom  of  the  red  man  in  Alaska,  and  pertains  to  all 
alike,  wherever  dispersed  througliout  the  vast  Territory. 

At  present  it  is  more  than  lolly  to  attempt  to  induct  him  into  any  other  way  of 
looking  at  a  wrong  or  injury.  Authority,  with  dollnito  instructions  to  our  rulers, 
whether  civil  or  military,  to  in  this  way  settle  all  disputes,  especially  when  life  has 
been  taken,  will  always  keep  him  (tlio  ludiau)  peaceable  and  friendly,  and  in  the  end 
save  to  the  government  many  notable  lives  and  a  large  expenditure  of  treasure. 

I  aiit  led  to  these  reflections  by  observing  that  in  this  way  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
and  the  Russian-American  Fur  Company  have,  for  nearly  a  century,  lived  in  compara- 
tive security  among  the  PaciKc  coast  Indians,  failing  in  but  few  instances,  a  confidence 
betrayed,  property  taken,  or  life  endangered. 

Again,  my  own  personal  experience  is  a  powerful  examjde  of  the  system  of  such  a 
course.  Last  Now  Year's  eve  u  difficulty  occurred  at  tho  market-house  in  Sitka, 
between  a  Chilkaht  chief  an<l  a  soldier,  a  sentinel,  which  resulted  in  the  imprisonment 
in  tho  gnard-bonse  of  the  chief,  and  through  some  nuaccountable  manner  the  death  by 
shooting,  in  u  day  or  two  afterward,  of  three  Indians.  For  a  full  account  of  these 
early  ditticnlties  t  refer  you  to  a  report  of  General  .J.  C.  Davis,  made  about  that  time. 

Among  tho  Indians  killed  was  one  Chilkaht,  one  Kake,  and  one  Sitka.  Tho  Kakes 
verjr  promptly  sought  tho  usual  remedy,  but,  failing  to  satisfy  themselves,  adopted 
their  extreme  remedy,  "an  eye  for  an  eye,  a  tooth  for  a  tooth;"  meeting  two  white 
men  near  their  village,  promptly  dispatched  them,  thereby  lost  all  of  their  viUage,  burned 
by  order  of  tho  general  commanding ;  hence  the  so-called  "  Kake  war." 

For  nearly  live  months  no  coast  or  interior  Indians  appeared  among  us,  to  the  great 
detriment  of  trade,  the  Chilkahts  especially  keeping  themselves  aloof  from  us  all  winter. 
Well  knowing  the  chief  and  most  of  his  people,  I  <let«rnuued  to  pay  them  a  visit  for 
pnrpose  of  trade  and  to  restore  ftioiuUy  relations.  First,  a  small  schooner  reached 
their  village  in  May  last,  and  found  them  sullen  and  listless,  and  eflfected  but  little  in 
any  shape  for  several  days.  At  the  end  of  the  fourth  day  our  little  vessel  was  suddenly 
boarded  by  about  seventy-five  well-armed  men,  bent  on  satisfaction  either  in  property 
or  life,  for  the  man  killed  at  Sitka  nearly  five  months  previous.  The  exigencies 
of  my  situation  required  pronijit  and  immediate  action.  Asking,  from  our  closed  cabin, 
an  audience,  it  being  granted,  I  stepped  out  among  them  with  my  interpreter,  an  In- 
dian, and  while  protesting  against  their  wish  that  I  should  pay  for  what  had  been 
(lone  by  our  military  chief  at  Sitka,  satisfied  them  by  giving  them  a  letter  to  the 
general  commanding,  asking  him,  for  the  sake  of  trade  and  security  to  life,  tu  pay  for 
the  man  killed,  giving  my  promise  to  the  Indians  to  pay  for  the  dead  man  if  the  gen- 
eral refused. 

Tho  general  refused  to  listen  to  tho  delegation  waiting  on  him  with'  my  letter,  I  re- 
turned with  my  vessel  again  to  Sitka  and  to  Chilkaht,  when  I  promptly  paid  the  price 
asked — thirteen  blankets  and  one  coat,  amounting  in  value,  all  told,  to  about  fifty  dol- 
lars, coin.  I  feel  quite  sure  that  in  this  simple  settlement  I  arrested  serious  trouble  to 
myself  and  probably  to  the  government. 

I  ma<lc  afterward  a  similar  settlement  with  the  Chilkahts  in  Sitka,  for  one  of  their 
men  killed  by  a  young  man  in  my  employ.  I  can  safely  say  that,  dealt  with  in  this 
way,  there  need  never  be  any  serious  complication  of  Indian  affairs  in  this  Territory. 
Miuiy  irregularities  and  immoralities  exist  among  onr  coast  Indians.  Like  their 
brothers  of  the  plains,  thev  are  great  lovers  of  whisky,  and  will  barter  their  all  to  get 
it.  They  should  be  pr-jliibited  its  use,  but  how  to  cflect  this  is  a  problem  I  am  unable 
to  solve,  unless  th>;  Importation  is  entirely  prohibited.  That  our  Indians  are  suscepti- 
ble of  a  high  stntidard  of  cultivation  there  can  be  no  possible  doubt.  This  can  only  be 
done  by  the  cid  of  industrial  and  educational  schools.  Tlie  missionary  is  Avorking  to 
good  advnvitace  at  Vancouver  among  the  Hydahs,  and  at  Fort  Simpson  among  the 
Cbciiiseans.  In  these  two  tribes  can  bo  found  men  and  women  of  high  culture  and  re- 
liiioment,  tit  to  "grace  almost  any  position  in  life." 

The  Koloshan,  our  own  Indians  from  Tongas  to  the  Copper  Kiver,  are  quite  as  intel- 
ligent and  easy  of  culture,  needing  only  the  same  liberal  system  of  education  to,  in  a 
very  short  time,  fully  utilize  them  for  every  purjiose  of  government  and  usefulness. 

The  inhobpitality  of  the  country,  difl'ering  as  it  does  so  widely  from  the  usual  fields 
of  civilized  men,  ninst  for  a  long  time  make  tho  Indian  the  nucleus  of  population  of 
Alaska;  and  if  so,  how  very  essential  that  he  be  at  once  advanced  through  education 
and  example  to  his  high  destiny. 

While  the  manners  and  cnstcmis  are  tho  same  of  the  whole  Koloshan  race,  there  is  a 
marked  difference  in  the  wealth  and  condition  of  those  tribes  living  on  the  mainland 
coast  over  that  of  the  islander.  Position,  custom,  and  numbers  have  given  to  the 
former  the  entire  control  of  the  valuable  trade  with  the  interior,  in  some  five  of  the 
great  mainland  tribes,  each  warlike  and  powerful,  and  equally  jealous  of  any  encroach- 
ments on  their  peculiar  privileges. 

Beginning  north  we  have  the  Copper  River  Indians,  variously  estimated  from  three 
to  four  thonsand  strong ;  but  little  is  known  of  tbii  people.  They  ore,  however,  known 
to  be  very  rich  in  furs. 

S.  Ex.  Doc.  68 2 


18 


WRANGEL,    ALAiSKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 


The  early  Rnssinns  told  fiibiilous  stories  of  the  existence  of  both  ffold  and  copper  on 
this  river,  which  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  the  Indians  ar(>  at  times  seen  to  nse  those 
metals  in  their  ornainonts. 

Next  ill  order,  south,  are  tlie  Klaliinks,  about  one  thousand  stron)^.  They  live  in  tho 
<;reat  liasin  or  park  known  as  II(!hriiiK  Bay,  between  Momit  .St.  Elias  and  Mount  Fair- 
weather,  and  have  a  splendid  coiniiiuiiication  with  tho  interior  by  means  of  two  lonp;, 
fine  rivers  (uiiptyiiijj  into  tho  bay.  Those  Indians  are  j^ontlo,  hospitalile,  and  kind,  but 
are  ])oor,  haviiif;  been  neglected  by  the  traders  for  the  last  three  years,  'i'hey  are  in 
<|nick  (loininiiiiication  witli  a  .splendid  fur-bearing  country,  and  only  require  a  market 
to  develop  s|)1endid  nisources. 

Next  ill  order  are  the  Hoonid,  or  C^ross  Sound  Iiuliaiis,  two  tlionsand  stroiifj.  Tlioy 
live  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  sound  for  a  distance  of  siijty  niiles,  and  are  the  oil  mer- 
chants of  the  coast,  takiiij;  enormously  largo  quantities  of  seal,  dog-fish,  and  nlican 
oil,  which  they  barter  to  their  brethren  along  the  coast.  Tlieso  oils  are  used  largely  by 
our  Indians  as  an  article  of  food;  it  is  used  by  them  as  we  nse  butt<!r. 

At  the  head  of  the  Chatham  .Straits,  almost  duo  north  Irom  Sitka,  two  hundred  and, 
twenty  miles,  are  tho  Chilkahts,  at  least  ten  tlionsand  strong.  They  are  a  bravo  and 
warlike  ])eoi)le,  "  more  sinned  against  than  sinning."  I  have  had  niU(!h  to  do  with  them, 
and  ever  I'oundthcin  honest,  faithful,  and  kind.  Their  villages  extend  from  tho  mouth  to 
a  distance  of  s(!venty-live  miles  up  tln^  Chilkaht  River,  Coal  and  iron  abound  in  inox- 
liaustiltle  quantities ;  liiige  mas.ses  of  irmi  can  bo  found  among  tiio  boulders  almost  any- 
where ahnig  the  banks  of  the  n(il)le  stream.  The  Indians  state  tho  existence  of  gold  in 
tho  mountain  jiasscs  of  tin?  river.  Tho  "color"  has  ln-en  found  near  tho  mouth.  On 
<!very  hand  can  bo  seen  (jiiart/.  cro]q)ing  boldly  out  from  a  width  of  from  one  to  twenty 
feet.  Nothing  is  known  of  its  character' or  valiu!.  These  Indians  aro  among  the  richest, 
if  not  the  wealthiest,  of  our  coast  Indians.  Largo  quantities  of  the  most  valuable  furs 
iiTt^  annually  gathered  and  sold  by  them.    Tlit^vare  in  every  way  iiidopondent. 

Twenty  miles  ncn'th  of  Sitka,  and  east  of  Admiralty  Islaml  stiventy-livo  miles,  are  tho 
Takoos,  living  at  tlie  head  of  'I'akoo  Inlet,  on  tho  Takoo  River.  Tlieso  Indians  claim  to 
bo  richer  in  furs  than  any  of  the  tribes  around  them.  About  the  same  quantity  can  bo 
got  hero  as  on  the  Chilkaht.  Some  idi:a  may  bo  gathered  of  the  large  trade  at  ono 
time  done  with  them  when  I  state  but  a  shm't  time  ago  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
made  their  traiUf  lease  fnun  the  Russian-American  Conqiany's  Inrstakiiii  in  a  single  trip 
of  their  steamer  over  live  thousand  nnirteii  skins,  and  other  valuable  skins  in  proportion. 

Tho  Takr)os  number  about  the  same  as  tho  Chilkahts,  and  are  a  j)roud  and  haughty 
race.  Gold  is  well  known  to  exist  anywhere  along  this  river,  but  the  Indians  have 
steadily  refused  to  ]iermit  any  development.  Coal  is  also  found  here  in  largo  quanti- 
ties; indeed  it  is  found  thronghont  the  coast  and  islands  of  our  inland  waters.  Of 
salmon  it  would  be  invidions  to  jiarticnlarizo;  they  are  found  in  endless  numbers  any- 
where in  onr  fresh-water  streams.  The  largest  and  best  are  found  in  the  Takoo,  Chil- 
kaht, Behring  Bay,  and  Copper  River,  reaching  an  enormous  size,  many  of  thom  weigh- 
ing seventy  ponn<ls. 

Give  Alaska  a  market  and  she  will  soon  develop  a  second  New  England. 

The  confcnniatiou  of  onr  mountain  ranges  are  not  unlike  those  of  Washington,  Ore- 
gon, and  Califo  nia.  They  form  onr  coast  and  are  iron-clad — a  greater  portion  of  thom 
iron.  A  distance  of  twenty  or  thirty  miles  will  pass  one  through  this  range,  whore  i.<» 
found  an  almost  level  jdatean  well  covered  with  timber.  This  |>lateau  extends  inland 
for  a  distance  of  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  when  another  chain 
of  mountains  is  icachcd,  answering  to  what  is  kuo»-n  as  tho  Cascade  Range  in  Oregon, 
or  the  Bine  Range  in  California. 

There  can  bo  no  donbt,  from  what  tho  Indians  tell  ns,  in  this  plateau,  between  tho 
two  ranges,  tho  prospectors  will  at  no  distant  day  develoi)  a  field  us  rich  in  the  precious 
niineials  as  any  foniid  in  the  southward. 
■\'ery  restiectfully, 

F.  K.  LOIITIIAN. 

Hon.  ViKCENT  COI.YEI!, 

Fort  hrangel,  A.  T. 


Appendix  F.  ■    . .  i    > 

Letter  from  Frank  Mahovey  on  the  Indians  and  their  trade  in  Eastern  Alaska. 

Sitka,  A.  T. 

Pk/r  8in :  In  rrirplinnce  with  yotir  request  I  give  yon  my  views  in  relation  to  tho 
vniicns  Indian  liil.i  s  of  this  Teiritoiy  as  far  as  my  observation  goes.  In  regard  to  the 
population  nrd  in;nl  er  of  trne  of  llic  tribrs  1  have  no  data;  of  otliers  1  can  spoak 
Irom  obsei vutien ;  that  is  to  f ny,  fu  m  Cook's  Inlet  to  the  iiouthcn)  boundary. 

From  what  I  can  Itain  of  the  extiinic  norlliwcbt,  in  tho  Behring  Sea  to  the  Straits, 


(I  coppt^r  on 
to  tiao  thoflo 

live  in  tho 
Mount  Fnlr- 
[>f  iwo  lonp;, 
1(1  kind,  but 
'iliny  aro  in 
I'o  a  market 

ron;^.  Tlioy 
till!  oil  moi- 
1111(1  iilican 

13(1  liii'f;oly  by 

undrod  and, 

I  bmvo  and 

()  with  thiMii, 

tho  nioutli  to 

Mind  in  inox- 

H  almost  any- 

iR'(!  of  jioU  in 

mouth.     On 

)n((  to  twenty 

[•r  tii(i  ri(!h(ist, 

viilniibl(»  furs 

dont. 

mil(!a,  are  tint 

liiUiH  cluini  to 

lantity  can  bo 

tnido  at  one 

Kay  Company 

n  a  Hinj^lutrip 

in  proportion. 

1  and  haughty 

Indiana  Lave 

1  larjje  quuuti- 

id  waters.    Of 

numbers  any- 

10  Tttkoo,  Chil- 

)f  them  weigh- 

d. 

tihinf;ton,  Oro- 
ortion  of  thorn 
ango,  wlioro  is 
extends  inland 
another  chain 
iige  in  Oregon, 

I,  between  tUo 
in  the  prociouti 


LOUTHAN. 


Alaska. 

Sitka,  A.  T. 

relation  to  tho 

II  regard  to  the 

!r8  1  can  spoak 

idary. 

],  to  the  Straits, 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 


19 


the  IndiauH  lead  a  wandering  life,  and  are  variously  designated  as  tlie  '•  Kociiuusky," 
"OnoHsky,"  "(Jagatsky,"  and  "Colehing."  Tiieso  tribes  aro  estimated  from  four  thou- 
sand to  ti\  ;  tliousand.  During  the  winter  mouths,  say  from  October  to  April,  tln^y  will 
wander  over  immense  tracts  of  country,  in  bands  of  from  lifty  to  one  hundred,  somi^times 
undergoing  great  privation ;  and  it  has  iu'vn  said  that  they  will  sometimes  sacriliee  one  of 
their  ntimbcr  to  save  the  rest  from  starvation.  Tlieir  occupation  is  trapping  and  hunt- 
ing tho  reimhser.  They  will  travel  during  this  season  of  the  year  from  the  valhsy  of 
Yukon  to  Copix'r  Uiver,  stopping  for  short  periods  wiiere  game  and  furs  are  ])lenty. 
They  will  Komctinies  touch  the  shores  of  Frince  William  Sound,  Cook  Inlet,  and  also 
tho  western  shore,  in  Hehring  Sea.  Tiio  skins  they  collect  are  line  nuirten,  mink,  silver 
and  black  fox.  The  few  nativ(!S  the  writer  has  seen  slunv  them  to  be  a  peaceable 
race  and  respectful  to  tint  white  nuiu,  looking  upon  him  as  a  superior;  there  is  no 
doubt  but  they  could  be  shaped  into  useful  citizens  in  time. 

To  the  south,  on  the  Aleutian  chain  of  islands  and  on  the  )ieninsula  of  Uualoska,  are 
the  Aleutes,  a  very  (juiet  race,  and  nearly  all  Christians.  Their  niimbi-r  is  said  to  be 
about  seven  thousand.  Those  living  on  the  islands  are  engaged  in  fur-sealing,  sea- 
otter  hunting,  and  traitidng  the  fox,  of  which  there  aro  the  silver,  cross,  and  red.  They 
aro  found  eiiii)loyed  at  the  dilferent  trading  posts  in  the  Territory. 

The  Indians  of  Cook  Iidet  and  adjacent  waters  aro  called  "  Kanisky."'  They  are 
settled  along  tho  shore  of  the  inlet  and  on  the  east  shore  of  the  peninsula.  A  very  so- 
ciable race  of  Indians,  their  number  is  from  live  hundred  to  eight  hundrod.  During 
the  winter  months  they  hnive  the  shores  for  the  purpose  of  hunting  and  triii>ping, 
when  in  the  spring  they  return  to  their  summer  homes,  dispose  of  their  winter  prod- 
ucts to  traders  for  tea,  sugar,  tobacco,  8he(^tiug,  prints,  clothing.  Hour,  hardware,  such 
:w  knives,  axes,  hatuhcts,  &v.  The  spring  and  summer,  till  the  latter  part  of  Jinie,  is 
passed  in  idleness,  Avhen  the  salmon  season  coinmenciis,  and  lasts  \intil  August,  when 
they  dry  large  (]iuiutitios  of  salmon,  weighing  from  forty  to  one  hundred  pounds  each. 

East  of  Cook  Inlet,  in  I'riuee  William  Sound,  there  are  but  few  Indians;  they  are 
called  "  Nuchusk."    There  may  be  about  four  hundred  iii  all,  with  some  few  Aleut<!S. 

Hutchinson,  ICohl  &,  Co.  have  a  post  on  the  south  eiul  of  llcuenbrooke  Island,  which 
is  the  depot  for  the  furs  that  come  down  the  Copper  River,  although  they  collect  numy 
sca-ottcr,  for  which  tin;  shore  about  tlu;  mouth  of  Co]iper  Itiver  and  around  Middletou 
Island  is  famous. 

Every  year,  the  middle  of  June,  tlircc  ov  four  larg((  skin-cauo(!s,  capable  of  carrying 
Iwe  tons  each,  are  sent  up  Copper  River,  loaded  with  trading  goods,  done  up  in  oiw- 
hundred-pound  packages,  covered  with  water-tight  skins,  so  tliat  should  accident  hap- 
pen, which  not  uurre(iu('ntly  occurs,  the  goods  are  i)ortablo  to  handle.  It  takes  about 
eighty  days  to  make  the  trip ;  the  canoes  aro  hauled  nu)st  of  tho  way  on  tlu^  ice,  on 
their  ascent  of  the  river.  On  the  return,  the  winter  collection  of  furs  is  brought 
down,  the  river  then  being  clear  of  ice.  The  nmgazinois  about  eighty  miles  up  the  river. 
The  Indians  about  Copper  River  are  called  "Madnussky,"  or  Copper  Indians,  and  may 
be  classed  with  the  wandering  tribex.  To  the  east,  along  the  coast,  about  one  hundred 
and  tifty  miles  fnun  the  month  of  Coi)per  River,  we  come  to  Hehring  Bay.  The  most 
northern  of  the  Kolosh  Indians,  of  which  there  are  nunii-rous  tribes,  extending  to  Port- 
land Canal,  all  speak  the  same  language  with  a  little  ditfercnce  iu  dialect.  They  are  a 
savage  and  pitatical  race,  and  as  a  general  thing  aro  not  to  be  trusted.  Fear  .  [  ^  zn- 
ishment  for  outrages  keeps  them  in  order. 

I  hcr(!with  add  a  list  of  the  tribes  from  Buhring  Bay  to  the  southern  boundary  : 


Resuleucc. 


Xamo  of  tribe 


Number. 


ll(<hriiie  Bny Ynkntat 

Unliviiitf  Hay i  Slikiiio 

KehritiK  llu'v !  Tdiigas 

( "ri)S8  Sound ' j  AVhiiiega 

Cross  Sound I  AVliinpfin,  (UittTior) . 

Cliilkiiht  lnl(!t 

Chilknlit  luUit 

Stoplicu  l'nKsnf;c 

Stc|ilimi  Passu KO 

Admiralty  Island 

AdiniriUty  Isliuul 

Aduiiralty  Ih1:uuI 


Chilkaht. 

Anegn 

Takon 

Sitka 

HoodsiucMi . 

Kakc 

Auk 


300 

1,800 

800 

.500 

800 

3,500 

300 

9,000 

1,000 

1,000 

750 

750 


Of  the  Yakutat  tribe,  they  have  but  few  furs  iu  the  winter ;  they  do  nothing  in  spring. 
They  trsule  and  trap  with  souuj  Indians  to  the  south  of  them,  who  live  on  some  small 
streams  that  enii)ty  into  tho  ocean.  I  could  get  no  infornuition  from  them  respecting 
their  neighbors,  regarding  their  numbers  and  language.  All  they  said  was  that  they 
were  m(u-e  iiumer(uts  than  themselves,  and  they  made  good  trade  with  them  for  marten, 
mink,  fox,  bear,  wolverine,  and  lynx,  for  which  they  gave  thi.'ui  tobacco,  brown  sheet- 
ing, needles,  thread,  knives,  buttons,  beads,  &c. 


a55H" 


20 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 


Tlio  YiikutatH  \uivti  liffii  in  tlio  bnMt  of  tin(linj»  witli  tlio  Sitkas  iviid  (JliilkiilitM,  wlio 
in  the  HiniitiK!!'  HciiNon  ]m,v  tlnnn  visits,  tnkinj;  from  tSifkii  hiicIi  urticlisH  uh  dry  ^ooiIh, 
pnu'ditr,  Klir)t,  knivi-H,  iiiid  triiiki'tH,  bringing  buck  fiifR. 

The  Wiiiiicf;iiii  liiivi-  but  few  furs;  thry  arc  cliicUy  oiiiploycil  in  lialr-m>iil  llsliiii);,  of 
wbii'h  tbcy  >{ct  abundance;  Ibey  ^''t  in  traib)  about  cijjiit  ctiuts  apircn  for  liitsin.  'I'liiry 
al«o  K''^  Moiui-  inarti-ii,  mink,  fox,  and  iK-ar  from  Cross  Sound. 

W'l)  no  iiortb  to  (Miilkabt,  at  tiic  b('a<l  of  t\w  iiiU-t  ho  iianird,  wlicrc  tboro  is  »  rivnr  on 
whirb  an-  tlircn  villaucs;  each  vilbijjo  is  ]>rfsidcd  ovi>r  by  a  cliirf. 

Tlic  (Miilkalits  an^  tli(^  most  numcrouH  of  all  tli<^  K()b>sli  trilx's.  'I'bcy  ('at<'b  Konin  ftirit 
about  tlicir  own  grounds,  ))ut  tho  greattT  portion  conies  from  I lio  iiitorior,  or  wbiTP 
tlioy  K'*  *"  tradd  twice  a  ycitr,  Hprinj;  and  fall.  There  is  no  doubt  but  tiiey  niiUe  a  bij; 
profit  on  tbo  skins  they  liriiij.;  down. 

Nothing  is  known  of  these  interior  Indians,  only  what  thn  coivst  Indians  Hay,  that 
they  are  called  "Si-hini-e-na,  or  Stick  Indians."  They  will  allow  no  whites  to  pass  up 
the  rivers.  'I'hc  trade  which  tho  coast  Indiana  take  into  the  interior  consists  of  dry 
jjoods,  l)lanketN,  toliacco,  powder,  shot,  and  light  ilint-lock  niiiskets,  if  they  can  get  them. 
Although  the  aninninition  and  muskets  are  a  pndiiliited  trade  in  tliis  Territory,  Mtili 
tile  Iiiiii.'ins  f;et  them  from  tho  Hudson's  Bay  Comiiany  at  Fort  Simpson.  Steel  traps, 
knives,  hatchets,  needles  and  thread,  and  little  clieaji  jewelry,  form  their  ))riniupal 
tratle,  for  which  they  (jet  in  exchange,  marten,  mink,  silver,  cross  and  red  fc»x,  black, 
brown,  and  grizzly  bear,  lynx,  wolverine,  urmino,  beaver,  laud  otter,  a'lil  some  iiifi?rir>r 
Hkins.  Th((  price  they  give  may  l)e  represented  thus:  Marten, 50  cents;  mink, 2.'> cents; 
lynx,  20  cents;  silver  fox,  ijl  25;  cross  and  red  fox,  fnnu  '25  cents  to  .50  cents;  wolver- 
ine, ;57i  cents;  bear,  black,  50  cents  to  $1  50";  bear,  grizzly,  50  cents  to  ^1  .50;  bear, 
brown,  50  cents;  beaver,  20  cents  to  40  cents;  land  otter,  50  cents. 

These  they  exchange  with  tho  trader  at  an  advance  of  from  two  hundred  to  four  hun- 
dred per  cent,  for  such  articles  as  tlioy  require.  Tlio  traders'  taritf  may  be  quoted  :  Kor 
prints  and  sheeting,  25  cents  per  yard;  tobacco,  $1  .50  per  pound;  molasses,  .$1  jut  gal- 
lon ;  powder,  §1  50  per  pound ;  shot,  50  cents  per  pound  ;  blankets,  (assorted,)  $:{  to  ^5. 
Steel  traps,  knives,  vcnuilion,  flour,  hard  bread,  beans,  rice,  and  some  few  articlcH  in 
tho  way  of  clothing,  ]mnts,  shirts,  (cotton  and  woolen,)  blue  cloth  caps  with  glazed 
covers,  shoes,  and  some  minor  articles. 

The  trading  prices  for  skins  are:  Marten,  .$2  o  ^3 ;  mink,  25  cents  to  i}l  .50;  bear, 
black,  $1  .50  to  $:i  .50;  bear,  grizzly,  $1  to  ^3  10;  bear,  brown,  50  cents  to  f^-i  .50  ;  fox, 
silver,  J4  ;  fox,  cross,  gl  50  to  $2;  fox,  red,  75  cents  to  $1 ;  beaver,  HO  cents  to  $1  per 
pound ;  land  otter,  $1  50  to  $2 ;  hair  seal,  B  cents  to  10  cents ;  deer-skins,  15  centH  to  20 
cents. 

Tho  above  may  answer  for  the  Indians  from  Chilkalit  to  Portland  Inlet.  Of  tho  Ta- 
koos,  the  same  may  be  said  as  of  tho  Chilkahts  and  tribes  above  Stephen's  Passage. 

Oil  the  east  of  Admiralty  Island  are  tho  Koot-se-noos.  Thoy  have  but  few  furs,  but 
collect  considerable  hair  seal  ami  deer-skins.  They  also  rai.so  quantitiiis  of  potatoes  of 
good  (|nality  and  fair  size.  * 

Coming  east  through  Pe.arl  Straits  to  Sitka  are  the  tribe  of  that  name.  They  are 
employed  in  trading  with  the  other  tribes,  hunting,  and  fishing,  and  are  <!niploy<!d  as 
porters  and  laborers  about  tho  town  of  Sitka.  They  also  cut  nearly  all  the  cord-wood 
that  is  nseil  by  tho  citizens.  Thoy  ni.ay  bo  considered  very  useful  adjuncts  of  the  town 
citiztms,  as  they  are  they  chief  jmrvcyors,  supplying  them  with  all  kinds  of  fish  and 
game,  such  as  (lucks,  geese,  venison,  grouse,  iStc. 

Going  south  around  Baranof  Island,  and  up  throngh  a  ])ortion  of  Chatham  Straits, 
we  come  to  tho  lijit  tribo  on  Kyro  and  Kespriano  Islands.  They  cat(;li  some  furs,  such 
ns  lynx,  bear,  and  hair  seal,  besides  trading  with  some  of  tluur  neighbors.  Their  trade 
has  fallen  oft"  considerably  since  the  occupation  of  the  Territory  by  the  Americans. 
Tlii'y  formerly  were  in  the  habit  of  getting  thoir  trading  gooils  from  small  crafts  from 
Victoria,  but  at  prissent  tho  Indians  north,  south,  wist,  for  two  liiiiidred  miles,  either 
come  to  Sitka  or  get  their  wants  supplied  from  small  crafts  that  load  or  are  owned  by 
Sitka  merchants. 

Passing  east  and  south  through  Frederick's  Sound,  we  come  to  Wrangel  Island  and 
the  mouth  of  the  Stikine  River,  where  are  tho  villages  of  tho  Stikine  tribi?.  They 
were  sonn;  years  ago  a  numerous  tribe,  but  liquor  and  its  coneoinitaut  vices  matiTially 
lessened  their  numbers.  They  collect  considerable  marten,  mink,  bear,  .'iiid  lynx. 
They  have  formerly  carried  on  considerable  trade  with  the  interior  tribes,  but  sinco  the 
discovery  of  gold  in  18^2,  tho  competition  of  tho  whites  has  lessened  their  tnule. 
The  furs  that  are  collected  in  this  section  are  principally  disposed  of  at  Fort  Wrangel. 
To  the  west  and  south  of  Prince  of  Wales  Lsland  is  an  oil-shoot  of  the,  Ilydali  or 
Queen  Charlotte  Island  Indians.  They  number  some  throe  hundred  and  are  called 
Au-e-ga.  They,  it  may  bo  said,  aro  tho  only  Indians  from  Bahring  Bay  to  Portland 
Inlet  that  speak  a  ditl'erent  language  from  tho  rest.  They  raise  consideralde  (|iiantities 
of  potatoes,  trap  mink,  bear,  and  beaver.  They  .also  go  up  the  Naas  River  in  March 
for  the  coUeetion  of  the  hoolicou  or  candle-fl.sh  oil,  which,  when  pressed,  is  a;4  well 
flavored  as  leaf  lard. 


k.'llltM,  wlio 

<lry  ^imhIh, 

lisliiiit;,  of 
i)(!iii.    Tlmy 

s  II  rivr<r  oil 

•li  Miiiu!  fiirn 

i>r,  or  wliiTc 

ii:  ilci^  li  hi;; 

IS  Miiy,  flmt 

to  |*:IH'4    ll|l 

ihInIh  of  (Ir.v 

!lll  K<^t  tllCIII. 

ritory,  Htill 

St  I'd  tnvii.i. 

r  )iriiici|i!il 

I'ox,  liliick, 

ioiiiit  iiifi^rior 

iiik,'.i.'>(;(!iitH; 

iits;  wolviir- 

^1  r.O;  boar, 

I  to  toiir  liiin- 
(|nrifi'(l :  For 

H,  .^1  JMTgal- 

tiMl,)S:{to|». 

•\v  ixrt'u'U'n  in 

M'itli  glazed 

jjl  W) ;  boiir, 
to  8-.i  .00  ;  fox, 
iitM  to  $1  por 
15  (;i!iit*«  to  !iO 

.    Of  thi)  Tii- 

H  I'i»!*ni»(;n. 
tVw  fiiM,  Imt 
i)f  j>otato(!ii  of 

111'.  Tlioy  am 
)  <!iiil>loy<!<l  nH 
Mit)  coril-wood 
ts  of  tlio  t<l\»ll 
1h  of  iMi  iiTid 

itliani  Htraitn, 
Hiic  fiirn,  Hiicli 
.    'Jlicirtradtr 

111!  AllirTICilllH. 

ill  craftH  from 
1  iiiili;H,  cither 
an!  owiiud  hy 

(il  iHl.atid  nnd 
)  trihi!.  They 
C(!»  iiiuti;rially 
;ur,  :iiid  lynx. 
,  hilt  Hiiicp,  tlio, 
r  triMlc. 
FortWrfin^fd. 
till!  Ilydali  or 
tiid  iirit  callful 
y  to  I'ortl,iiid 
,hlo  i^iiatititiRH 
iver  in  Murcli 
ltd,  iH  lit    wtdl 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO    BOMBARDMENT. 


21 


In  Cliirpnnw  .Straits  and  adjacent  islands  thoy  aro  the  connecting  link  hotwcon  the 
Kolosh  race  and  Sinipsians  on  tlie  British  Hide.  Thoy  Hpuak  the  Kidosli,  Sinipsian,  and 
Ifydali  tonRiie.  Thoy  catch  coiiMidorahlo  mink,  hear,  beaver,  wolvorino,  and  some  sea 
ott«'r.  The  An-e-;;aH  cidlect  large  quantities  of  candle-fl.sh  oil  or  Rreaso.  It  is  put  up 
in  tight  cedar  boxes,  from  lifty  to  eighty  poundn,  and  taken  north  as  far  as  Uhilkaht, 
and  brings  good  prices  in  furs. 

The  Indians  from  I'liget  Sound  to  the  northwest  catch  and  dry  large  quantities  of 
siilinon  ;  the  further  north  the  better  the  salmon. 

In  Cook  Inlet  the  salmon  commence  running  in  iJiine  and  deteriorate  in  quality  as 
tliey  go  south.  July  and  August  aro  the  montlis  about  tlie  latitude  of  Sitka,  and  grad- 
ually lat(!r  as  they  ^o  south,  so  that  at  I'liget  Sound  in  September  and  October  they 
are  the  most  plentiful,  and  not  as  good  tliivor. 

Take  the  Indians  of  the  coast  of  the  Territory  they  are  as  well  supplied  with  the 
necessaries  of  life  as  the  aborigines  of  any  country  in  the  world.  Tlie  forests  aro  tilled 
with  game,  the  waters  with  tish,  and  the  beach  and  rocks  with  dams  and  muscles. 
Tlicy  arc  a  healthy  ami  vigorous  raci! ;  both  men  and  women  can  back  very  heavy  loads. 
The  men  and  women  are  more  on  an  equality  than  the  Indians  of  Pu^et  Sound  and 
cast  of  the  Cascade  Range.  They  aro  steady  and  good  workers  for  a  siiort  time — say 
one  month — when  they  like  to  knock  off  for  about  the  same  time.  The  writer  thinks 
that  it  would  be  an  impo-ssibility  to  turn  the  Indian  from  his  vagabond  life.  The  change 
to  order,  with  laws  and  schools,  might  last  for  a  short  time,  but  the  novelty  would  wear 
off,  and  thoy  would  fall  back  into  their  old  ways.  Thoy  soon  pick  up  the  vices,  with 
none  of  the  virtues,  of  the  whites.  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  writer  that  it  would  take  a 
generation  to  shape  them  into  useful  citizens,  although  a  partial  success  has  been 
obtained  by  Mr.  Uuucau  a  short  distance  below  Fort  Simpson  with  the  Chimpsiana,  aud 
still  they  fall  otf. 

The  writer  is  not  at  all  prejudiced  against  tho  Indians.    Wherever  ho  has  como  in 
contact  with  them,  which  has  been  much  in  tho  lost  sixteen  years,  ho  has  endeavored 
to  show  them  the  had  policy  of  their  predatory  ways;  shows  them  advantages  which 
can  accrue  by  industry,  that  this  may  act  as  a  stimulant. 
IJespectfuUy  yours, 

FRANK  MAIIONY. 

Hon.  Vincent  Colykh. 

Special  United  iSialtm  Indiun  Comminninnei: 


ArPKNDix  O. 
Medical  Director  liaiUii  on  inlempirawn'  and  debaucliei'i/, 

Sitka,  Alaska  TEiuuTonY,  Octobtn-  2.5,  1869. 

My  Deau  Sm :  I  inclose  for  your  information  tlio  report  of  Acting  Assistant  Surgfeoii 
•John  A.  Tonwer,  United  States  Army,  iu  medical  chargo  of  tho  Indians  in  this  vicinity, 
in  conformity  to  instructions  given  him  by  nio.    A  copy  of  the  same  is  inclosed. 

This  report  is  instructive  and  cimtains  important  suggestions  which,  if  carried  out, 
would  go  far  toward  improving  their  condition. 

I  am  satisfied  that  little  or  iwthing  can  be  dono  until  thoy  are  placed  under  better 
and  more  favorable  influences.  A  greater  mistake  could  not  have  been  committed  than 
stationing  troops  in  their  midst.  They  mutii.ally  debauch  each  other,  and  sink  into  that 
degree  of  degradation  in  which  it  is  iini)08sible  to  reach  each  other  tLrough  moral  or 
religious  influences. 

Whisky  has  been  sold  in  the  streets  by  government  oilicials  at  public  auctions,  and 
examples  of  drunkenness  aro  set  before  them  almost  daily,  so  that  in  fact  tho  principal 
teaching  they  at  present  aro  receiving  is  that  drunkenness  and  debauchery  aro  held  by 
us,  not  as  criminal  and  nubecoiuing  a  Christian  people,  but  as  indications  of  our  ad- 
vanced and  superior  civilization. 

These  Indians  aro  a  civil  and  well-behaved  people  ;  they  do  not  want  bayonets  to 
keep  them  in  subjection,  but  they  do  want  honest,  faithful,  and  Christian  workers 
among  them  ;  those  that  will  care  for  them,  teach  and  instruct  them  in  useful  arts,  and 
that  they  are  responsible  beings.  I  look  npou  tho  dift'eront  military  posts  iu  this 
department  as  disastrous  and  destructive  to  their  well-being  j  they  are  not,  aud  can 
never  be,  of  the  least  possible  use ;  they  aro  only  so  many  wLisky  fonts,  from  whence 
it  is  spread  over  tho  couutry.  If  we  ever  have  trouble  with  them  aud  become  involved 
in  war,  it  will  bo  found  to  arise  from  these  causes.  F'rom  the  nature  and  character  of 
tho  country,  posts  never  can  render  tho  least  influence  or  aflbrd protection  against  con- 
traband trade ;  this  can  only  bo  dono  by  armed  vessels,  in  command  of  choice  men. 
To  go  into  d(!tail  on  all  points  would  require  pages;  you  have  seen  enough  to  satisfy 
yourself;  and  iu  giving  you  the  inclosed  report  I  only  want  to  add  my  testimony 


22 


WKANOEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    HOMBARDMENT. 


ii^iiiiist  wliiit  I  cuncoivo  to  be  a  inoHt  griovoiii  t^ror  in  tliu  inaiKi^uiuunt  of  tliu  Indian 
iiH'ilirH  it!  tliis  Ti-rritory, 

When  yon  f^o  hotnii  wend  us  lionust,  fUitlil'ul,  (Jluistiim  workdw;  unt  ijlaccufikcrg,  but 
tlio.so  who  want  to  do  ;^ooil  work  for  ChriHt'n  Hukii  and  kingdom.  Sond  nion  and  women, 
for  both  am  Wiuitt'<l. 

When  yon  can  do  awuy  witli  tbo  evils  spoken  of,  and  which  are  no  evi(bint,  and 
adopt  this  latter  course,  tlien  tliero  will  Ite  hope,  and  not  until  then. 
Sincerely  yonr  friend, 

!■:.  .1.  HAILKY, 
Sun/roii  r.  iS'.  ./.,  MaUcitt  Dinctor  Diixiiiiiiiiil  of  Alanka. 
Hon.  ViNi'KNi'  (loi.Yi'.i;. 


Al'l'KNDIX    M. 

Ijcltcr  from  Captain  Edward  (I,  fust  (late,  of  the  United  Statrs  Army,)  on  the  charaeltr  of 

the  Koldflian  Indians. 

WAHHi.NdTox,  I).  ('.,  Marcit  1.'),  1870. 

DkauSik:  In  ri)spou.so  to  your  letter  of  tho  lit li  instant,  in  whi(di  yon  recpiest  iny 
opinioi!  a.s  to  tho  general  character  of  th((  Kolo.shans,  particularly  whether  any  trou- 
ble with  them  nuiy  bo  a]iprchended  by  the  United  States  troops  or  traders,  if  they  are 
treated  with  ordinary  fairness,  1  have  the  honor  to  state: 

As  to  the  original  cliaracter  of  tho  Koloshans  I  can  only  corroborate  the  graphic 
descri]>tion  of  the  Hon.  Charles  Suinner,  in  bis  speech  on  the  cession  of  Uussian  Amer- 
ica to  the  United  States.  It  is  doubthfss  familiar  to  yini,  and  therefore  1  refrain  from 
going'into  i)articidars.  Ibit  on  the  other  hand,  the  intluence  of  tliiMr  intercourse  with 
tho  white  iium  lias  c^tfected  so  great  a  change!  of  their  original  character  that  I  nnint 
necessarily  refer  to  it. 

Thrown  together  with  the  whites  for  more  than  eighty  years,  the  Koloshan.s,  like 
tho  aborigini!s  in  tho  westt;rn  ])lains,  have  willingly  ado]it(Ml  tin.'  vices  of  the  white 
man  and  sacriliced  many  a  virtue  of  their  own.  Their  intercourse  with  the  Russians 
was  of  very  extra(U'dinary  character.  They  were  never  con<iuered  by  tin-  Russians; 
iind  in  atl  the  inimical  enconntcirs  they  had  with  them  thev  were  either  victors  in 
fact,  or  in  a  measure  reaped  tho  fruits  of  a  victory  by  receiviiig  donations  of  blankets 
and  other  iK'cessaries  of  life,  to  ellect  a  ie(  (uiciliation.  So  tli".>'  not  only  remained 
entirely  independent,  but  were  brought  to  tlu!  belief  tliat  tlie  J'.. ssians  feared  them. 
To  this  incousistent  policy  of  the  Russians  we  have  to  ascrihi",  tlivc  when  tln^  American 
government  took  possession  of  the  country,  we  were  loo'vtM  cpon  with  disti'ust  and 
even  suspicion.  The  Koloshans  exiiected  at  least  the  saiii'j  'T/nsideration  as  they  had 
enjoyed  with  the  Russians.  In  that  thi\v  found  themselves  deceived.  Itut  more,  they 
found  that  they  were  deprived  of  sumlry  luxuries  with  which  they  hail  been  freely 
provided  by  the  Russians;  a  lo.ss  tho  more  kiienly  felt  as  they  observed  the  unlicenaod 
indulgence  of  tho  Americans  in  the  very  articles  withhold  from  them.  In  this  respect 
I  must  principally  refer  to  the  use  of  liquor  which  had  become  a  second  nature  with 
them. 

One  of  tlio  first  very  necessary  actions  of  tho  new  government  was  tho  prohibition 
of  liquor  to  tho  Kolo.shanH,  but  which  was  onforced  in  a  manner  exceedingly  humilia- 
ting to  them,  ami  only  by  cunninj^  artifices  and  extravagant  offerings  they  were  able 
to  procure  tho  rauch-dcsired  whisky  from  tho  Americans.  Yet  they  had  daily  beforo 
them  tho  revolting  spectacle  of  drunkenness  and  dissipation  publicly  ami  shamelessly 
presented  by  tho  Americana,  and  eviin  by  such,  from  whose  official  standing  they  natur- 
ally supposed  tho  origin  and  enforcement  of  tho  restrictions  imiiosed.  Who  will  con- 
demn them,  when  they,  having  such  examples  before  their  eyes,  were  filled  with  deadly 
hatred  and  contefhpt  for  the  Americans,  who,  not  infrequently,  in  their  drunken  reck- 
lessness, heaped  all  sorts  of  insults  ujion  them  ;  and  who  can  wonder  that  these  peo- 
ple, injured  thus  in  their  innermost  feelings,  were  led  to  deeds  of  violence  which  found 
80  bloody  and  summary  retribution  ? 

From  my  personal  experience,  I  know  that  these  people  can  bo  managed  by  fair  and 
just  dealing.  I  might  compare  them  to  a  stubborn  and  wayward  boy,  led  astray  by 
evil  exannno  ;  ho  can  only  bo  managed  by  persevering  kindness,  but  lie  must  kiiow, 
■nevertheless,  that  there  is  tho  will  and  strength  to  punish  insohiut  defiance.  The  Ko- 
loshans must  learn  that  wo  do  not  fear  tlu^ni,  and  tlmn  they  will  respect  us;  they 
must  bo  made  conscious  that  wo  do  not  misuse  tliein,  then  they  will  have  no  opportu- 
nity to  misinterpret  our  doings.  Distrust  is  a  leading  trait  in  their  character,  and  sel- 
fishness tho  motive  of  their  actions.  Liit  us  bo  jiiM  to  them,  and  their  mistrust  will 
vanish,  and  their  selfishness  no  longer  find  an  ailment.  In  the  quiet  possession,  and 
the  development  of  the  resources  of  Alaska,  wo  shall  need  to  fe.ar  nothing  more  than  a 
serious  quarrel  with  the  Koloshans.    Such  a  (piarrel  has  already  begun,  and  iu  view 


of  tlirir  nv\ 
have  no  otln 
policy  cTiliri 

The  relics 
lion,  and  ad 
now  they  ar 
virtues  of  tl 

The  KoloH 
ill  tiie  W4'sti 
lor  their  viv 

,\s  I  have 
slow  upon  f 
a  pi'.'ii'ci'ul  a 
Idit  also  for 
if  p(l^sible,  1 

The  iudtit 
lire,  with  fiM 
till!)  (if  a  lie 
iiiipcu'tcd  fi'i 
lliis  exteiisi 
liuppins  not 
■.i  new  siipjil 
not  furnish 
again,  with( 
:iiid  its  cost 
:ii'ticle  of  c(i 

May  thesi 

sincerity  of 

hi'iielit  of  tl 

I  havi 


Ibiii.  ViN( 
Sccrcli 


till!  Indiiui 

■Hcrkcrg,  but 
1111(1  women, 

'viili:iit,  mill 


II  HV, 
'/■  .llanka. 


e  characltr  of 


h  ir.,  1H7(). 

('(|in)st  my 
KM'  any  troii- 
,  if  they  am 

till!  f^riiphic 
usHiiiii  Amor- 
rciViiiii  from 
rcoiirso  with 
r  tliiit  I  imitit 

Dlosliiius,  liko 
of  till!  wliito 
the  ItiiHsiiiiiM 
tlic  IJiiKsiaus; 
icr  victors  in 
H  of  bliinketi'i 
Illy  iciiiiiined 
I  foiirod  them. 
tli(>  AiiK'i'iean 
distrust  and 
n  lis  thi'y  had 
lit  more,  they 
d  been  freely 
he  nnlicensod 
n  this  resjiect 
il  nature  with 

:i('  prohibition 
ngly  humilia- 
lu\v  wi^ro  able 
il  daily  before 
d  shamelessly 
ngthcynatur- 
VVho  will  con- 
'd  with  deadly 
drunken  reek- 
hat  these  peo- 
rt  whieh  found 


WRANOEL,    ALASKA,    PRKVIOUS    TO    H0MHA11DMKNT. 


23 


of  their  iniirtiiil  M|)irit,  of  their  vindictive  disposition,  mid  itersi'verin;^  ener;{y,  will 
liiive  no  other  tenninivlion  than  their  eomplete  extinetion,  hIioiiIiI  we  not  assume  n 
policy  entirely  ditl'erent  from  that  hitherto  exentised  toward  them. 

The  relies  I  found  anion;;  the  Koloslians  y;ive  proof  of  a  eomiiariitively  hij;h  civili/.a- 
lion,  and  admiralile  skill  and  Nteadiness.  Ily  their  inti^reonrse  with  the  while  man, 
now  they  ai'i^  victims  of  ruin  and  whisky;  lu/.iness  und  indolence  have  Hiiitplaiiteil  the 
virtues  of  tiicir  forefalhers, 

The  Koloslians  dill'er  very  much,  by  many  distinet  )iecnIiantieH,  from  the  abnri;;ineH 
ill  the  western  plains,  and  possess  ipinlities  facilitating  an  earnest  and  HystiMuatii;  etfort 
liir  their  eivili/atioii. 

As  I  hav(^  already  advocated,  on  anollirr  occasion,  our  true  jioiicy  should  be  to  be- 
slow  upon  them  I  lie  blessing  of  civiii/atioii,  and  to  promote  their  matiuial  welfare  by 
a  peaci'ful  and  benevolent  mana;;eiiiciit,  notonly  fortlie  sake  of  ('hristiaii  pliilanthropy, 
lint  also  for  our  own  material  intei'-sl,  in  order  that  at  least  their  ])rescrvatioii,  iind, 
if  possible,  their  numerical  increase,  may  be  secured. 

The  inllneiicc  of  the  climate,  and  llie  peculiarity  of  tin  .^oil  of  Southeastern  Alaska, 
,'irc,  with  few  exceptions,  opjiosed  lo  the  intiodnclion  of  a;;rieiiltiiri!,  the  main  foiinda- 
tiiiii  of  a  new  colony.  All  necessaries  of  life,  wliich  agriculture  produces,  have  to  bi^ 
imported  from  N'ictoria,  or  from  Aniericaii  ports,  and  as  lliero  are  but  few  points  on 
lliis  extensive  coast  which  enjoy  a  direct,  communication  with  tliesi;  jiait.s,  and,  as  it 
iKijipciis  not  iiiilVcipientlj'.  jiarticnlarly  in  winter  time, that  several  mouths  jiass  before 
a  new  sujiply  can  be  had,  what  would  bi'coiiie  of  the  settler  if  the  friendly  natives  did 

Ml 


uvw  siip|ii,\   ciiii  iH*  iiati,  wiiai  woiiiu  orctMiit;  oi    iiie  scliici   it    iiic  iiiciiui^v  iiaii>es  (iiii 

,ii>t  fiiinisli  Ilim  with  name,  which  only  ilicy  know  wliero  and  how  to  Iind  f  And, 
a^aiii,  witliont  his  assislance,  the  caiitiire  of  fur  animals  would  ammint  to  very  little, 
Mild  its  cost  would  lie  so  lar;;e  thai,  furs  from  Alaska  could  hardly  he  (umsidered  as  an 
article  of  comineree.  In  one  word,  Alaska,  without  her  natives,  is  worthless. 
May  these  su^^jestions,  based  upon  im^ontestable  facts, and  made  in  ^ood  faith  in  the 
ity  of  our  j;overiimeiit,  eoiitiibiite  lo  the  adoption  of  a  policy  that  will  be  to  the 
t  of  these  peo|)le,  niirselvcs,  and  the  ;ireat  cause  of  hninaiiity  and  civilization. 


since 
licni 


I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant, 


lion.  Vi\(:i;m'  Coi.vr.i:, 

Snrtliirij  Hoard  of  Indian  (.'oiniiiiiHionrrn. 


r.UWAlM)  (J.  IWST, 
Late  Caplain  i'nitcil  Sluta  Army, 


m\  by  fair  and 
led  astray  by 
le  must  know, 
ice.  The  Ko- 
pect  us;  they 
,-0  no  opportu- 
aeter,  and  sel- 
inistrust  will 
osscHsion,  and 
g  more  than  a 
1.  and  iu  view 


..•wi<iiiiliuil,ni.j.<i. 


I. 


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